Waikiki

Waikiki is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Waikiki's population is around 13,515 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 976 people (7.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,539 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,513 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 14 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,338 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Waikiki's 7.8% growth since the census positions it within 2.1 percentage points of the national average (9.9%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 62.2% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including natural growth and interstate migration, were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is utilising the growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Considering the projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of national areas is expected, with the area expected to grow by 1,279 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 9.4% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Waikiki when compared nationally

Waikiki has averaged around 19 new dwelling approvals annually, totalling 95 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 20 approvals have been recorded. With an average of 7.2 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), demand is significantly outpacing supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $292,000. Additionally, $2.5 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature.

Relative to Greater Perth, Waikiki shows substantially reduced construction (84.0% below regional average per person). This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes, though development activity has picked up in recent periods. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints. Further, new construction has been completely comprised of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. At around 438 people per approval, Waikiki indicates a mature market.

Looking ahead, Waikiki is expected to grow by 1,277 residents through to 2041 (from 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.

Waikiki has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 16thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 7 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the DHA Defence Housing Program - Rockingham, Schools Upgrade Fund - Rockingham and Kwinana Schools, Safety Bay/Waikiki Foreshore Lighting Replacement Works, and The Strand at Safety Bay, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 Waikiki are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Waikiki features a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 7.2%, and relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 6,852 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 3.1% above Greater Perth's rate of 4.1%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation lags significantly (66.6% compared to Greater Perth's 71.9%). Based on Census responses, a low 5.5% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care and social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in manufacturing, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, professional and technical services are under-represented, with only 4.4% of Waikiki's workforce compared to 8.2% in Greater Perth. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 0.3% while the labour force increased by 0.8%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 2.3%, labour force growth of 2.6%, and unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Waikiki. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Waikiki's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.6% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

The Waikiki SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $59,253 and an average of $74,198 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is higher than average nationally, contrasting with Greater Perth's median income of $60,748 and average income of $80,248. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $64,953 (median) and $81,336 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Waikiki, between the 37th and 42nd percentiles. Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 33.5% of the community (4,527 individuals), consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 32.0% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 43rd percentile.

Waikiki is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Waikiki, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 97.8% houses and 2.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Waikiki was in line with that of Perth metro, at 29.6%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (47.0%) or rented (23.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Perth metro average at $1,600, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $320, compared to Perth metro's $1,907 and $350. Nationally, Waikiki's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Waikiki has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households dominate at 74.1% of all households, comprising 32.0% couples with children, 27.6% couples without children, and 13.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 25.9%, with lone person households at 23.0% and group households comprising 2.8% of the total. The median household size of 2.6 people matches the Greater Perth average.

Educational outcomes in Waikiki fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (13.5%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 9.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 44.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (33.9%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.5% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 43 active transport stops operating within Waikiki, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 6 individual routes, collectively providing 1,524 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 221 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 82%, with 9% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling. A relatively low 5.5% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 217 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 35 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Waikiki is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Waikiki faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (~7,581 people), compared to 59.0% across Greater Perth.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 9.7% and 8.6% of residents, respectively, while 66.1% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 19.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,596 people), which is higher than the 16.3% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Waikiki is above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 9.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 32.2% born overseas. The main religion in Waikiki is Christianity, which makes up 43.6% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 0.1% of the population, compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Waikiki are English, comprising 35.1% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 28.0%, Australian, comprising 25.2% of the population, and Scottish, comprising 7.6% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Maori is notably overrepresented at 1.9% of Waikiki (vs 0.9% regionally), New Zealand at 1.1% (vs 0.8%) and South Australian at 0.9% (vs 1.0%).

Waikiki's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

With a median age of 40, Waikiki is somewhat higher than the Greater Perth figure of 37 and similarly marginally higher than Australia's 38 years. Compared to the Greater Perth average, the 55 - 64 cohort is notably over-represented (14.8% locally), while 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented (10.2%). In the period since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 4.4% to 6.3% of the population, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 9.2% to 11.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 14.3% to 12.4% and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 12.1% to 10.2%. Demographic modeling suggests Waikiki's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow significantly, expanding by 576 people (68%) from 850 to 1,427. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 80% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.