Malabar - La Perouse

An assessment of population growth drivers in Malabar - La Perouse reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Malabar - La Perouse's population was 10,610 as of the 2021 Census. By Feb 2026, it had increased to around 11,062, reflecting a rise of 452 people (4.3%). This change is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 10,915 in June 2024 and an additional 22 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio was 1,315 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade (2011-2021), Malabar - La Perouse showed resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 0.2%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration primarily drove this growth.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to have an above median population growth, increasing by 1,312 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 10.5% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Malabar - La Perouse recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Malabar - La Perouse has recorded approximately 59 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 297 homes were approved, with a further 13 approved so far in FY-26. Despite a falling population during this period, development activity has been adequate relative to the population change, which could be seen as positive for buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $481,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This financial year, $1.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney, Malabar - La Perouse shows 106.0% higher construction activity per person, offering buyers greater choice. New development consists of 17.0% detached houses and 83.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 47.0% houses). This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 185 people per dwelling approval, Malabar - La Perouse shows characteristics of a low density area.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Malabar - La Perouse is projected to add 1,165 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Malabar - La Perouse has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 23 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Malabar Ocean Pool Accessible Amenities Building, Jennifer St, Little Bay, 27 Jennifer Street, Little Bay, and Meriton Little Bay Development. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment drivers in Malabar - La Perouse are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Malabar - La Perouse has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 8.2% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.5%.

There were 5,074 residents employed by September 2025, with an unemployment rate of 4.1%, higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Malabar - La Perouse was 58.5%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 46.0% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries of employment among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services.

The area specializes in public administration & safety, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. Retail trade has limited presence, at 7.0% compared to 9.3% regionally. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.5%, while the labour force grew by 2.8%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with a slight rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Malabar - La Perouse's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The median taxpayer income in Malabar - La Perouse SA2 is $66,164 and the average is $90,029 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is among the highest in Australia compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,029. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $72,026 (median) and $98,006 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Malabar - La Perouse rank highly nationally, between the 77th and 79th percentiles. The $4000+ income bracket dominates with 25.5% of residents (2,820 people), unlike regional trends where 30.9% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. A substantial proportion of high earners (37.1%) have incomes above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity throughout the area. High housing costs consume 18.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 74th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Malabar - La Perouse displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Malabar-La Perouse, as evaluated at the 2016 Census, comprised 46.6% houses and 53.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Malabar-La Perouse was 33.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.8% and rented dwellings at 38.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,200, compared to Sydney metro's $2,427. Median weekly rent figure for Malabar-La Perouse was $535, while Sydney metro had $470. Nationally, Malabar-La Perouse's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Malabar - La Perouse has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.2% of all households, including 33.7% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.8%, with lone person households at 27.6% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Malabar - La Perouse shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's university qualification rate is 39.5%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 54.6%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 32.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 20.7%. Educational participation is high, with 36.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.0% in primary education, 10.0% in secondary education, and 6.8% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Malabar - La Perouse has 104 active public transport stops. These are served by 20 different bus routes, offering a total of 3,599 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 163 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car remains the dominant mode of travel at 86%, while only 5% use buses. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 46% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 514 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 34 weekly trips per individual stop. The map provided shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Malabar - La Perouse is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Malabar - La Perouse faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across both younger and older age cohorts, with common health conditions somewhat prevalent. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 66% of the total population (7,289 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 7.6 and 6.4% of residents respectively. However, 71.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence but the area has a notably higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 23.1% (2,553 people), compared to 15.4% in Greater Sydney. National rankings are broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Malabar - La Perouse was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Malabar-La Perouse has a higher linguistic diversity than most local markets, with 23.9% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home as of the 2016 Census. In terms of birthplace, 32.7% were born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Malabar-La Perouse, making up 60.4% of the population.

However, Judaism is more prevalent here compared to Greater Sydney, with 2.2% of residents identifying as Jewish versus 0.8%. The top three ancestry groups are English (22.0%), Australian (18.4%), and Irish (10.6%). Notably, French (1.8%) and Russian (0.9%) ancestry are overrepresented in Malabar-La Perouse compared to the regional average of 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Hungarian ancestry is also slightly higher at 0.5%.

Malabar - La Perouse hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Malabar - La Perouse is 44, which exceeds Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and significantly surpasses the national average of 38. The age group of 65-74 has a strong presence at 11.6%, compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 10.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15 to 24 increased from 9.5% to 12.2%, while the 25 to 34 group decreased from 11.6% to 10.5%. The 5 to 14 age group also declined, from 10.4% to 9.4%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant changes in Malabar - La Perouse's age profile. Notably, the 85+ population is expected to double (from 373 to 745 people), with those aged 65 and above accounting for 72% of this growth. Conversely, the populations aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 are projected to decrease.