Wollongong

Wollongong lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, Wollongong's population is estimated at around 22,813, reflecting an increase of 2,367 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents an 11.6% increase from the previous population count of 20,446. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 22,368 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024), along with an additional 836 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 3,960 persons per square kilometer, placing Wollongong in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This high density indicates the suburb's land is a highly-sought resource. Wollongong's growth since the 2021 Census exceeded that of its SA3 area (4.5%) and the Rest of NSW, marking it as a growth leader in the region.

The primary driver for this population growth was overseas migration, contributing approximately 93.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. For population projections moving forward, 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, AreaSearch utilises the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, exceptional growth is predicted over the period, placing Wollongong in the top 10 percent of national regional areas. By 2041, the suburb is expected to increase by 15,292 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 65.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Wollongong among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Wollongong experienced around 341 dwelling approvals annually, with 1,706 homes approved between financial years FY21 to FY25 inclusive. As of FY26263 dwellings have been approved. On average, 1.1 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years.

The average construction value was $403,000. Wollongong recorded $130.7 million in commercial development approvals in FY26. Compared to Rest of NSW, Wollongong has 181.0% higher construction activity per person. New developments consist of 2.0% detached dwellings and 98.0% attached dwellings. Wollongong is projected to add 55 people per approval by 2041, reflecting a developing area. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Future projections show Wollongong adding 14,847 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Wollongong 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 identified 35 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include the Wollongong to Coniston Rail Infrastructure Upgrade, Wollongong Hospital Redevelopment - Planning and Equipment Upgrades, Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), and 21 Auburn Street, Wollongong. The following list details those most 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 Wollongong are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Wollongong has a highly educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 6.9% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.1% over the past year based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. There were 12,850 residents in work while the unemployment rate was 3.0% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was at 66.8%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, 33.9% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area has a particular employment specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level.

Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with 0.2% employment compared to 5.3% regionally. There was one worker for every resident as at the Census, indicating Wollongong functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 1.1% while labour force increased by 0.7%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.4 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional NSW where employment fell by 1.2%, labour force contracted by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Wollongong. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Wollongong's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023 indicates Wollongong's median income among taxpayers is $50,083. The average income in Wollongong during this period was $68,445. These figures are comparable to national averages. In Regional NSW, the median income was $52,390 with an average of $65,215 for financial year ending June 2023. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $54,520 (median) and $74,509 (average) as of September 2025. Census data from 2021 shows Wollongong's personal income ranks at the 56th percentile ($836 weekly), while household income sits at the 38th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 33.4% of individuals in Wollongong earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (7,619 individuals). This is similar to regional levels where 29.9% fall within this income band. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 34th percentile. Wollongong's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

In Wollongong, as per the latest Census data, dwellings consisted of 13.9% houses and 86.1% other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This differs from Regional NSW's dwelling structure which comprised 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wollongong was at 25.1%, with mortgaged dwellings accounting for 18.4% and rented ones making up 56.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Wollongong's median weekly rent figure stood at $410, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Wollongong's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 50.8 percent of all households, including 12.6 percent that are couples with children, 29.6 percent that are couples without children, and 7.2 percent that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 49.2 percent, with lone person households at 37.4 percent and group households comprising 11.8 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

Educational attainment in Wollongong is notably high, with 40.7% of residents aged 15 years and over holding university qualifications as of the latest data. This figure exceeds that of the broader Rest of NSW region (21.3%) and the SA4 region (25.2%). The area's educational advantage includes a significant proportion of residents with bachelor degrees (25.8%), postgraduate qualifications (12.2%), and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.2% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (19.2%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as per the latest statistics. This includes 14.8% pursuing tertiary education, 4.1% in primary education, and 3.4% engaged in secondary education.

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

Wollongong has 117 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 85 individual routes, collectively providing 6,497 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 128 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Wollongong's primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 74%, while 15% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 33.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 928 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 55 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Wollongong'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

Wollongong's health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions among residents. Common health issues are similar across both young and elderly cohorts.

Approximately 54% (~12,316 people) have private health cover, higher than Regional NSW's 51.9%. Mental health issues affect 10.1%, arthritis impacts 8.3%, while 68.0% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population health outcomes are typical. Wollongong has 17.4% (3,969 people) aged 65 and over, lower than Regional NSW's 23.4%. National rankings for this age group align with general population figures.

Wollongong 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

Wollongong's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 33.7% born overseas and 28.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Wollongong, comprising 45.6% of its population. Islam, however, is overrepresented compared to Regional NSW, making up 4.6% versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (23.2%), Australian (19.3%), and Other (12.5%). Notably, Macedonian (2.6%) Serbian (1.3%), and Spanish (0.7%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Wollongong compared to Regional NSW averages of 0.4%, 0.2%, and 0.3% respectively.

Wollongong's population is younger than the national pattern

Wollongong's median age is 34, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Regional NSW average, Wollongong has a notably higher percentage of 25-34 year-olds (28.2%) and a lower percentage of 5-14 year-olds (4.3%). The 25-34 age group is particularly concentrated in Wollongong compared to the national figure of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, younger residents have decreased the median age by 1.5 years to 34. During this period, the 25-34 age group has increased from 23.9% to 28.2%, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 9.7% to 8.2% and the 55-64 group has dropped from 11.1% to 9.9%. Population forecasts for Wollongong indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 78%, reaching 11,454 people from its current figure of 6,433.