Lakemba

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

The suburb of Lakemba's population is estimated at around 18,062 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 17,092 people, a growth of 970 individuals (5.7%). AreaSearch estimates this population based on resident figures of 17,613 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. Lakemba's density ratio is 8,247 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% nationally. The suburb's growth rate of 5.7% is within 1.9 percentage points of its SA4 region (7.6%). Overseas migration contributed approximately 78.0% to Lakemba's population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in June 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. Lakemba is projected to increase by 2,433 persons to 2041, reflecting an 11.0% total increase over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Lakemba is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Lakemba averaged around 29 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 146 homes were approved, with a further 19 approved so far in FY-26. This suggests that new supply has likely been keeping up with demand despite population decline, offering good choice to buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $242,000, under regional levels, indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. In FY-26, there have also been $13.4 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Relative to Greater Sydney, Lakemba shows approximately 59% of the construction activity per person and places among the 11th percentile of areas assessed nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing homes. This is lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints.

New development consists of 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's suburban nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (26.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. With around 1344 people per dwelling approval, Lakemba reflects a highly mature market. Population forecasts indicate Lakemba will gain 1,984 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Lakemba has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

AreaSearch has identified a total of 23 projects that could impact the area, with key ones including Lakemba Station Sydney Metro Upgrade, Lakemba Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Masterplan, Mixed Use Development at 677 & 687 Canterbury Road Belmore, and Mixed Use Development at 754-774 Canterbury Road Belmore. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Employment drivers in Lakemba are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Lakemba has a highly educated workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 8.6% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.9%. As of September 2025, 7,108 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 4.4%, which is 0.2% higher than Greater Sydney's rate.

Workforce participation in Lakemba is 58.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. A significant proportion of residents work from home, with 25.3% doing so according to Census responses. Employment is concentrated in retail trade, health care & social assistance, and transport, postal & warehousing. Lakemba has a strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 7.3% compared to the regional average of 11.5%. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 1.9%, while labour force grew by 3.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.7 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Lakemba's employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industry sectors.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The latest postcode level ATO data for Lakemba released in financial year 2023 indicates a median income among taxpayers of $34,243 and an average of $43,895. This is below the national average. In comparison, Greater Sydney's median income was $60,817 with an average of $83,003 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Lakemba would be approximately $37,277 (median) and $47,784 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census shows that household, family and personal incomes in Lakemba fall between the 4th and 15th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile reveals that 32.5% of locals (5,870 people) predominantly earn within the $800 - $1,499 category, unlike the metropolitan region where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Lakemba, with only 76.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 10th percentile nationally.

Lakemba features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Lakemba's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 25.6% houses and 74.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lakemba was at 20.9%, with the remainder either mortgaged or rented at 19.2% and 59.9% respectively. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,712, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Lakemba was $350, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Lakemba's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Lakemba features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.5% of all households, including 44.5% couples with children, 14.6% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.5%, with lone person households at 19.5% and group households comprising 8.9%. The median household size is 3.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational attainment in Lakemba aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 39.5%, higher than the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA3 area average of 31.0%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational pathways account for 20.3% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 10.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 39.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.9% in primary education, 7.9% in tertiary education, and 7.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Lakemba has 79 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 26 different routes that together facilitate 3,789 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's location to the nearest transport stop is 109 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility in the area. In this predominantly residential region, most commuters travel outward. Cars are the primary mode of transportation, used by 66% of residents, followed by trains at 20% and walking at 4%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.8, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 25.3% of Lakemba's residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 541 transport trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 47 weekly trips per individual stop.

Lakemba's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Lakemba residents have shown positive health outcomes according to AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts compared to national averages. Only approximately 44% (~8,017 people) of Lakemba's total population has private health cover, which is lower than Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

Diabetes and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 5.5% and 4.6% of residents respectively. A higher proportion of Lakemba residents, 81.3%, report being completely clear of medical ailments compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. However, seniors aged 65 and over make up only 11.4% (2,059 people) of Lakemba's population, lower than Greater Sydney's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

Lakemba is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Lakemba, one of Australia's most culturally diverse areas, has a population where 65.2% were born overseas and 81.5% speak languages other than English at home. The predominant religion in Lakemba is Islam, with 68.3%, compared to the Greater Sydney average of 6.8%. In terms of ancestry, the top groups are Other (49.8%), Indian (10.5%), and Australian (8.2%).

These figures differ significantly from regional averages: Other (16.0%), Indian (3.6%), and Australian (17.8%). Notably, Lebanese (6.3%) Vietnamese (3.5%) and Greek (2.8%) groups are also overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney's 2.6%, 1.8% and 1.9% respectively.

Lakemba hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Lakemba's median age is 32 years, which is younger than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and significantly lower than Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lakemba has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 years (15.5%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 years (7.6%). Post-2021 Census data shows that the percentage of residents aged 65-74 years has increased from 5.4% to 6.5%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 years has decreased from 20.0% to 18.2%. By 2041, Lakemba's age profile is projected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 75-84 years is expected to grow by 76%, adding 481 residents to reach a total of 1,114. Residents aged 65 and older are anticipated to represent 53% of the population growth, while the number of residents aged 35-44 years is expected to decrease by 62%.