Narraweena

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

The population of the Narraweena statistical area (Lv2) is estimated to be around 6,960 as of November 2025. This figure reflects a decrease of 11 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,971. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of the latest Estimated Residential Population data release by the ABS in June 2024. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 3,910 persons per square kilometer, placing Narraweena among the top 10% of locations assessed nationwide. Overseas migration contributed significantly to population growth in the area, accounting for about 88.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch's projections for the Narraweena (SA2) are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government SA2-level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth is anticipated for Australian statistical areas. According to aggregated SA2-level projections, the Narraweena (SA2) is expected to expand by 178 persons by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 2.8% over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Narraweena had virtually no dwelling approvals in recent years, totalling an estimated 4 homes over the past five financial years. As of FY-26 so far, 0 approvals have been recorded. Population decline in recent years has resulted in adequate development activity relative to population changes, benefiting buyers while new properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $238,000, under regional levels. This year, $1,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity.

Compared to Greater Sydney and nationally, Narraweena records lower building activity, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent construction comprises 50.0% detached houses and 50.0% attached dwellings, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 73.0% houses), suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The location has approximately 14,000 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market.

Narraweena has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified four projects likely influencing the region: Northern Beaches Bus Network Improvements, Wakehurst Parkway Improvements from Frenchs Forest to Narrabeen, Beacon Hill Reserve Masterplan and Sportsfield Upgrade, and Beacon Hill Road Mixed-Use Precinct (Potential).

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Narraweena recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Narraweena has a well-educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate is 5.5%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, there are 3,473 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 1.3% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Narraweena is similar to Greater Sydney's at 60.0%. The leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Retail trade shows strong specialization with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level, while finance & insurance employs only 5.4% of local workers compared to Greater Sydney's 7.3%.

The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, labour force decreased by 0.8% and employment decreased by 2.0%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.2 percentage points in Narraweena. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with unemployment rising by only 0.2 percentage points during the same period. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs) with a state unemployment rate of 3.9%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Narraweena's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Narraweena has a median taxpayer income of $53,074 and an average income of $81,996 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003 in the same period. By September 2025, current estimates project a median income of approximately $57,776 and an average income of around $89,261, considering Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Narraweena cluster around the 54th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that the largest segment comprises 23.1% of residents earning between $1,500 to $2,999 weekly, aligning with the regional trend where this cohort also represents 30.9%. Economic strength is evident through 33.5% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 19.4% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 57th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Narraweena is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Narraweena, as per the latest Census, 72.6% of dwellings were houses while 27.5% were other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This is different from Sydney metro's dwelling composition which was 57.6% houses and 42.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Narraweena stood at 31.5%, with mortgaged properties at 33.8% and rented ones at 34.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,042, higher than Sydney metro's average of $3,000. Weekly rent median was $400 compared to Sydney metro's $592. Nationally, Narraweena's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Narraweena has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 71.8% of all households, including 38.8% couples with children, 20.7% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 28.2%, with lone person households at 25.9% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Narraweena exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 28.0%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 41.5%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 20.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are held by 34.2% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.7% and certificates at 22.5%. Educational participation is high, with 30.1% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.1% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 4.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 43 active transport stops in Narraweena, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 53 different routes, together facilitating 4,012 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents on average residing 138 metres from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 573 trips per day across all routes, equating to around 93 weekly trips per individual stop.

Narraweena'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

Narraweena residents show relatively positive health outcomes, with common conditions seen across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 59% of the total population (4,127 people), compared to 71.5% in Greater Sydney.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.9 and 6.9% of residents respectively. A majority, 71.4%, report being completely free from medical ailments, slightly lower than the 74.7% reported across Greater Sydney. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over, at 22.1% (1,538 people), compared to 17.8% in Greater Sydney. Overall, Narraweena's health profile is broadly in line with the general population.

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

Narraweena's population showed high cultural diversity, with 31.9% born overseas and 24.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Narraweena, at 57.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 51.6%. The top three ancestry groups were English (25.8%), Australian (20.3%), and Italian (10.8%), with Italians notably higher than the regional average of 4.5%.

Some ethnic groups had notable differences: Serbian was at 0.9% in Narraweena vs 0.6% regionally, French at 0.8% vs 1.1%, and New Zealand at 1.0% vs 0.9%.

Narraweena hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Narraweena is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 years are particularly prominent, making up 8.4% of the population, while the 25-34 year-olds make up a smaller proportion at 9.3%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of the population aged 15-24 has grown from 11.4% to 13.1%, while the 35-44 age group has declined from 12.9% to 11.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Narraweena's age structure. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to increase by 259 people (44%), from 584 to 844. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 99% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 25-34 and 15-24 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.