Lakemba

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

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Lakemba is around 18,047, reflecting a growth of 955 people since the 2021 Census. The ABS ERP estimate for the suburb, used by AreaSearch, was 17,613 in June 2024. This increase represents a 5.6% rise from the 2021 Census figure of 17,092. The growth is primarily attributed to overseas migration, contributing approximately 78.0%. Lakemba's population density as of November 2025 is 8,240 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% nationally according to AreaSearch. This high density reflects the suburb's status as a highly sought-after residential area.

Between 2021 and 2041, Lakemba is projected to grow by 2,433 persons, representing an 11.1% increase over the 17-year period, based on aggregated SA2-level projections.

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

Between FY21 and FY25, Lakemba had approximately 146 new homes approved annually. In FY26 up to June, around 10 homes have been approved. The area has seen a population decline, yet housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, creating a balanced market with good buyer choice.

New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $242,000, below the regional average, suggesting affordable housing options. This financial year, Lakemba has registered $13.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating steady investment activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lakemba records about 59% of the building activity per person and ranks among the 11th percentile nationally for assessed areas, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing properties. This reflects the area's maturity and possible planning constraints.

New development consists of 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% townhouses or apartments, sustaining Lakemba's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space. The location has approximately 1344 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. Population forecasts indicate Lakemba will gain 1,999 residents by 2041. 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 23 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Lakemba Station Sydney Metro Upgrade, 677 & 687 Canterbury Road Belmore - Mixed Use Development, Lakemba Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Masterplan, and 754-774 Canterbury Road Belmore. The following list details projects likely most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Lakemba faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Lakemba has a highly educated workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 7.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8%.

As of June 2025, 7,122 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 3.7% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation lags at 42.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries of employment among residents are retail trade, health care & social assistance, and transport, postal & warehousing. Lakemba has a particular specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share 2.2 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence, at 7.3% compared to the regional 11.5%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.8%, while labour force grew by 2.2%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.6%, labour force grow by 2.9%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (Sep-22) project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lakemba's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on 30 June 2022 for financial year 2022, Lakemba had a median income among taxpayers of $34,243. The average income stood at $43,895. This was lower than the national averages of $56,994 and $80,856 across Greater Sydney respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% from financial year 2022 to September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $38,561 and average income around $49,430 by that date. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Lakemba fall between the 4th and 15th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution shows that 32.5% of locals (5,865 people) earn between $800 and $1,499, contrasting with surrounding regions where incomes predominantly fall in the $1,500 to $2,999 bracket 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, had 25.6% houses and 74.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 48.7% houses and 51.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lakemba was at 20.9%, with the rest either mortgaged (19.2%) or rented (59.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,712, below Sydney metro's average of $2,167. Median weekly rent was $350, compared to Sydney metro's $390. 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 account for 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 constitute the remaining 28.5%, with lone person households at 19.5% and group households making up 8.9%. The median household size is 3.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.9.

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

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 39.5% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4%. This rate also exceeds that of the SA3 area at 31.0%, indicating a strong emphasis on higher education within the community. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent, with 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+, including 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. A total of seven schools operate within Lakemba, educating approximately 3,221 students. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1001) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes four primary schools, two secondary schools, and one K-12 school. Lakemba functions as an education hub with 17.9 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 9.6, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

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

Lakemba has 65 active public transport stops, operating a mix of bus services. These stops are served by 26 individual routes, collectively facilitating 4,946 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 110 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 706 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 76 weekly trips per stop.

Lakemba's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Lakemba's health outcomes show impressive results, with younger cohorts experiencing a notably low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 44% (~8,011 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 49.6% and the national average of 55.3%. Diabetes (5.5%) and arthritis (4.6%) are the most prevalent medical conditions in Lakemba.

A total of 81.3% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 77.7%. Lakemba has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 11.0% (1,985 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.8%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population in Lakemba.

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 has a population where 65.2% were born overseas, with 81.5% speaking languages other than English at home. The dominant religion is Islam, practiced by 68.3%, compared to 24.7% in Greater Sydney. Top ancestry groups are Other (49.8%), Indian (10.5%), and Australian (8.2%).

Notably, Lebanese make up 6.3% (vs regional 10.6%), Vietnamese 3.5% (vs 3.7%), and Greek 2.8% (vs 8.7%) in Lakemba.

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 lower than the national average of 38 years. Lakemba has a higher concentration of residents aged 5-14 at 15.6%, but fewer residents aged 55-64 at 7.6% compared to Greater Sydney. Post-2021 Census data shows the 65-74 age group has increased from 5.4% to 6.1%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 20.0% to 19.0%. By 2041, Lakemba's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 75-84 cohort is expected to grow by 82%, adding 500 residents to reach 1,114. Residents aged 65 and older are anticipated to represent 54% of population growth, while declines are projected for the 35-44 and 25-34 cohorts.