Malabar - La Perouse
Statistical Area - sa2

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 June 2024, it had increased to an estimated resident population of 10,915. This increase is attributed to 21 validated new addresses since the Census date, resulting in a population of approximately 10,980 by Nov 2025. The population density as of Nov 2025 is around 1,305 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade (2011-2021), Malabar - La Perouse has shown a compound annual growth rate of 0.2%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during this period.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Malabar - La Perouse is expected to increase by approximately 1,312 persons by 2041, recording a gain of around 11.4% in total 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 granted around 59 residential approvals annually, with 297 homes approved from FY-21 to FY-25, and 9 so far in FY-26. The population has fallen during this period. Development activity has been adequate relative to the population decline, benefiting buyers.

New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $481,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. This financial year, $1.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded. Compared to Greater Sydney, Malabar-La Perouse has 106.0% higher construction activity per person. New developments consist of 17.0% detached houses and 83.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current 47.0% houses. This trend offers accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. With around 185 people per dwelling approval, Malabar-La Perouse is considered a low-density area.

By 2041, it is projected to add 1,247 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should meet demand comfortably, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Malabar - La Perouse has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 23 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones include Malabar Ocean Pool Accessible Amenities Building, Kamay Ferry Wharves, Jennifer St, Little Bay, and 27 Jennifer Street, Little Bay. The following list details those most likely to be 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 an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. The unemployment rate in June 2025 was 7.8%, with estimated employment growth of 3.7% over the past year.

As of June 2025, 5,196 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 3.6% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation lagged at 50.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries for employment among residents included health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. The area had a particular specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Retail trade had limited presence, at 7.0% compared to the regional average of 9.3%. Employment opportunities appeared limited locally, as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.7%, while labour force grew by 2.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a slight rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates varied significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Malabar - La Perouse's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though these extrapolations did not account for localized population projections.

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

Malabar - La Perouse had a median taxpayer income of $62,493 and an average income of $87,551 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is among the highest in Australia, with Greater Sydney's median income being $56,994 and average income of $80,856. By September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $70,373 and an average income of $98,591, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. Census data shows Malabar - La Perouse's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 78th and 79th percentiles. The $4000+ income bracket dominates with 25.5% of residents (2,799 people), unlike regional trends where 30.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. A substantial proportion of high earners (37.1% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout Malabar - La Perouse. High housing costs consume 18.8% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 75th 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

In Malabar - La Perouse, as per the latest Census, 46.6% of dwellings were houses while 53.4% consisted of other types like semi-detached homes, apartments and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan area's figures: 26.9% houses and 73.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Malabar - La Perouse stood at 33.2%, with mortgaged properties at 28.8% and rented ones at 38.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,200, exceeding Sydney metro's average of $3,033. Weekly rent median was recorded at $535 compared to Sydney metro's $550. Nationally, Malabar - La Perouse's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 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 account for 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, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.4.

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 held by 32.8% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 20.7%. Educational participation is high, with 36.2% currently enrolled in formal education: 12.0% in primary, 10.0% in secondary, and 6.8% in tertiary.

Malabar - La Perouse's 3 schools have a combined enrollment of 773 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1030) with balanced educational opportunities. All 3 schools focus on primary education, with secondary options available nearby. School places per 100 residents are 7.0, below the regional average of 11.1, suggesting some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

The analysis of public transportation in the Malabar-La Perouse area shows that there are currently 65 active transport stops operating. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 20 individual routes providing service to the area. The combined weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 3,724.

The accessibility of public transportation is rated as excellent, with residents on average located just 163 meters from their nearest transport stop. The service frequency across all routes averages at 532 trips per day, which translates to approximately 57 weekly trips per individual stop.

Malabar - La Perouse's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data shows Malabar - La Perouse residents have a relatively positive health outlook, with common conditions seen across both young and old age groups. The area has an exceptionally high private health cover rate of approximately 64% (7,005 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 70.6%. Nationally, the average is 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (7.6%) and mental health issues (6.4%). 71.1% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 76.0% in Greater Sydney. As of 2021, 22.4% of residents are aged 65 and over (2,456 people), higher than Greater Sydney's 15.1%. This aligns with the general population's health profile.

Malabar - La Perouse was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Malabar-La Perouse has a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 23.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 32.7% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Malabar-La Perouse, making up 60.4% of its population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 2.2% of Malabar-La Perouse's population versus 0.4%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.0%), Australian (18.4%), and Irish (10.6%). There are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: French is overrepresented at 1.8% compared to the regional average of 1.5%, Russian is slightly underrepresented at 0.9% versus 1.1%, and Hungarian is also underrepresented at 0.5% compared to 0.6%.

Malabar - La Perouse hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Malabar - La Perouse is 44, which exceeds Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group constitutes 11.2%, compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 10.8%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 9.5% to 11.8%, and the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 11.6% to 10.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Malabar - La Perouse's age profile. The 65-74 group is projected to grow by 33%, reaching 1,644 from 1,231. Those aged 65 and above will comprise 72% of the projected population growth. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are expected to experience population declines.