Perth (WA)

Perth lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Perth's population is estimated at around 16,840 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 3,170 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 13,670. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 16,721 following examination of ABS data released in June 2024 and an additional 505 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,701 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Perth's growth rate of 23.2% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.7%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 93.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimates, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population trends forecast a significant increase for Perth (WA) statistical area (Lv2), with an expected growth of 4,685 persons to 2041 reflecting a total increase of 26.0% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Perth was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Perth recorded around 116 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 581 homes. So far in FY2026, 40 approvals have been recorded. On average, each home built accommodates approximately five new residents annually between FY2021 and FY2025, indicating a significant gap between demand and supply which may exert upward pressure on prices and intensify competition among buyers. The average construction value of new homes is $685,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market with high-end developments.

In FY2026, commercial approvals amount to $264.3 million, reflecting robust local business investment. Perth's construction activity per capita is comparable to Greater Perth, supporting market stability aligned with regional trends. Recent development comprises 3.0% standalone homes and 97.0% townhouses or apartments, favouring higher-density living which offers more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 136 people per dwelling approval, Perth exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Perth is projected to add 4,377 residents by 2041. Development pace appears reasonable in relation to projected population growth, although increasing competition among buyers may arise as the population expands.

Perth has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Area performance is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 81 such projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Perth City Link Redevelopment, Edith Cowan University City Campus, Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and Perth Cultural Centre Rejuvenation. 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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AreaSearch assessment indicates Perth faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Perth has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 7.5% as of September 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

In this month, 11,416 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 3.5 percentage points higher than Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation stands at 69.4%, slightly above Greater Perth's 65.2%. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical services (37%), accommodation & food services (18%), and health care & social assistance (11%). The area specializes particularly in accommodation & food services, with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction employs only 5.1% of local workers, lower than Greater Perth's 9.3%. As per the Census data, there are 6.2 workers for every resident, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub attracting workers from nearby regions. In the 12-month period preceding September 2025, labour force in the area decreased by 2.5% alongside a 4.7% decline in employment, leading to a 2.2 percentage point increase in unemployment rate. This contrasts with Greater Perth where employment rose by 2.9%, labour force grew by 3.0%, and unemployment increased marginally. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows WA employment contracted by 0.27% (losing 5,520 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.6%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Perth's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on 30 June 2023 for financial year 2023, the suburb of Perth had a median income among taxpayers of $56,919 and an average level of $82,351. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to Greater Perth's median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $62,395 (median) and $90,273 (average). According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings in Perth are at the 87th percentile nationally ($1,139 weekly). In Perth, 36.2% of the population (6,096 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the surrounding region where 32.0% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 18.4% of income in Perth, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 59th percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Perth's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 8.7% houses and 91.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Perth metro's composition of 37.1% houses and 62.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Perth stood at 12.5%, with mortgaged properties at 20.8% and rented dwellings at 66.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, lower than the Perth metro average of $2,167. Median weekly rent was recorded at $400, compared to Perth metro's $390. Nationally, Perth's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Perth features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 45.3% of all households, including 9.9% couples with children, 30.1% couples without children, and 4.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 54.7%, with lone person households at 44.2% and group households making up 10.5%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.1.

Perth demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Perth's residents aged 15 and above have a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 53.9% of Perth residents hold university qualifications compared to 27.9% in Western Australia and 30.1% in Greater Perth. The area has a significant educational advantage with bachelor degrees being the most common at 35.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 25.9% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (13.9%).

Educational participation is notably high in Perth, with 33.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.9% in tertiary education, 3.7% in primary education, and 2.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

Perth has 208 active public transport stops serving a mix of ferry, train, and bus services. These stops are covered by 176 routes, collectively facilitating 43,234 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 132 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency across all routes averages 6,176 trips per day, translating to approximately 207 weekly trips per individual stop.

Perth's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Perth's health outcomes show excellent results, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 60% (10,085 people) have private health cover, compared to 69.5% across Greater Perth.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 9.3% and 6.2% of residents respectively. A total of 78.7% of residents report being completely free of medical ailments, compared to 74.5% across Greater Perth. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 9.0% (1,515 people), compared to 15.1% in Greater Perth. Senior health outcomes align closely with the general population's health profile.

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

Perth's population comprises 39.7% who speak a language other than English at home, with 56.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by 30.6%. Judaism is overrepresented in Perth at 0.4%, compared to 0.6% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups are English (20.5%), Other (16.4%), and Australian (12.9%), which is lower than the regional average of 18.0%. French, Spanish, and Korean ethnicities are notably overrepresented in Perth at 1.1%, 0.9%, and 1.2% respectively, compared to regional averages of 0.8%, 0.6%, and 0.6%.

Perth's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Perth's median age is 33, which is younger than Greater Perth's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Perth has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (35.2%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of Perth's population aged 75 to 84 has increased from 1.9% to 2.7%, while the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has decreased from 14.2% to 13.4%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate substantial changes in Perth's population structure. The 25 to 34 age group is expected to grow by 21%, adding 1,262 residents to reach a total of 7,190. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group is projected to grow by only 5%, an increase of 28 people.