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

According to the analysis conducted by AreaSearch, the resident count in Waikiki is approximately 13,674 as of May 2026. Compared to the 2021 Census, which registered 12,539 people, this represents an expansion of 1,135 individuals (9.1%). The ABS June 2025 estimated resident population of 13,674, combined with 64 validated new addresses added since the Census, forms the basis of this calculation. The local density stands at 2,365 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb in the top quartile of all evaluated Australian locations. The growth rate of 9.1% since the census is within 0.2 percentage points of the national average (9.3%), indicating competitive regional dynamics. The main driver of this expansion was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 67.7% of the total population increase during the recent period.

Projections published in 2024 by the ABS and Geoscience Australia, using 2022 as the base year, have been adopted by AreaSearch for SA2 areas. Where specific SA2 forecasts are unavailable, or for periods extending past 2032, growth rates from the latest ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023 with 2022 data) are applied to age cohorts. Given these expected demographic transitions, population growth is projected to rank slightly below the national median, with the suburb adding 1,143 residents by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP figures, translating to an overall increase of 8.4% across the 16 years.

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

Annual residential approvals in Waikiki average approximately 19 properties, with 95 dwellings approved during the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and an additional 34 approved in the course of FY-26. Because the area added an average of 8.6 people annually for every new residence constructed over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), construction is failing to keep pace with demand, a situation that typically intensifies buyer competition and exerts upward pressure on prices, with new homes averaging a build cost of $292,000. In addition, commercial approvals valued at $2.5 million have been recorded so far this financial year, suggesting that non-residential development remains a minor focus.

Waikiki exhibits a low volume of building activity when contrasted with the broader Perth metropolitan region, trailing the per capita regional average by 84.0%. Although construction has experienced a recent uptick, this low rate of supply generally supports the value of existing housing stock. This volume is also low on a national scale, illustrating the mature status of the suburb and potential planning constraints. Furthermore, construction has consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining the classic suburban environment and appealing to buyers who value spacious family homes. With roughly 444 residents for each approved dwelling, the local market shows signs of maturity.

Looking forward, the population of Waikiki is projected to rise by 1,143 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If current building rates persist, residential supply may struggle to accommodate the growing population, potentially driving buyer competition and supporting upward price movements.

Waikiki has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning decisions can significantly affect a suburb's trajectory. AreaSearch has identified a total of 7 projects that are likely to influence the local area. Principal developments include the DHA Defence Housing Program - Rockingham, the Schools Upgrade Fund - Rockingham and Kwinana Schools, the Safety Bay/Waikiki Foreshore Lighting Replacement Works, and The Strand at Safety Bay, with the following list detailing those of greatest 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

The local workforce is characterized by a balanced distribution of white and blue collar jobs, with a strong presence of essential service industries and a general unemployment rate of 7.4%. As of March 2026, 6,810 local residents are employed, with the unemployment rate tracking 3.2% above the Greater Perth average of 4.2%, showing potential for labor market improvement. The participation rate of 65.9% is somewhat lower than the Greater Perth benchmark of 70.2%. Census records show a modest 5.5% of the workforce worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by past pandemic restrictions.

The primary employment fields for local residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The suburb displays a strong concentration in manufacturing jobs, with representation reaching 1.5 times the wider metropolitan average. Conversely, professional & technical roles are underrepresented, accounting for 4.4% of the local workforce compared to 8.2% across Greater Perth. The discrepancy between the census count of working residents and local jobs suggests this primarily residential suburb offers limited employment options within its boundaries.

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, the local labor force contracted by 0.9% and total employment fell by 1.3% over the 12 months ending March 2026, leading to a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Over the same period, Greater Perth saw employment expand by 2.0% and the labor force grow by 2.5%, with its unemployment rate also rising by 0.4 percentage points. The May-25 national employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context regarding future local demand. These five- and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Nationally, employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary significantly by sector. Applying these sectoral trends to the local workforce mix indicates Waikiki's employment could grow by 5.8% over five years and 12.6% over ten years (this represents a simple weighted projection for illustration and excludes local population dynamics).

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

According to the latest postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, the median taxpayer income in the Waikiki SA2 is $59,253, and the average is $74,198. This is higher than the national average, though it compares to a median of $60,748 and an average of $80,248 in Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates as of March 2026 would be roughly $65,729 for the median and $82,308 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Waikiki were moderate, positioning the area between the 37th and 42nd percentiles. Looking at income distribution, 33.5% of the population (4,580 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which aligns closely with the regional figure of 32.0%. Housing affordability is tight, with 84.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking in the 43rd percentile.

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

The mix of housing in Waikiki at the time of the latest Census was dominated by separate houses at 97.8%, with semi-detached properties, apartments, and other dwellings making up the remaining 2.1%. This stands in contrast to the Perth metropolitan average of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. The rate of home ownership was 29.6%, matching the Perth metropolitan average, while mortgaged properties accounted for 47.0% and rental homes comprised 23.3% of the total. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,600 was lower than the Perth metropolitan median of $1,907, and the median weekly rent of $320 was also below the metropolitan figure of $350. Nationally, local mortgage commitments are lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and rents are below the national median of $375.

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

Family units constitute 74.1% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 32.0%, couples without children at 27.6%, and single-parent households at 13.7%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 25.9%, with lone person households representing 23.0% and group households making up 2.8% of the total. The average household size is 2.6 people, matching the average for Greater Perth.

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

The region shows lower rates of tertiary education, with university qualification levels at 13.5% compared to the national rate of 30.4%. This presents a clear opportunity for targeted educational strategies. Bachelor degrees represent the largest segment at 9.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 1.8% and graduate diplomas at 1.8%. Vocational and technical training are highly represented, with 44.9% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificates at 33.9%.

A high level of educational involvement is apparent, with 30.3% of the population enrolled in an educational program. This figure includes 11.5% in primary schools, 9.4% in secondary schools, and 3.6% in tertiary institutions.

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

An analysis of public transport reveals 43 active passenger stops operating within Waikiki, consisting of various bus options. These stops are served by 6 distinct routes, which combine to support 1,524 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 221 meters from their nearest stop. Because the suburb is primarily residential, most workers commute out of the area; private cars remain the primary mode of travel at 82%, followed by trains at 9%. Households average 1.5 vehicles. A relatively low 5.5% of workers reported working from home in the 2021 Census, which may reflect the pandemic conditions at the time.

Services run at an average frequency of 217 trips per day across all routes, which corresponds to roughly 35 weekly trips per active stop.

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

The suburb faces notable public health concerns, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and the prevalence of chronic illnesses across both younger and older cohorts, though the rate of private health insurance is high at roughly 56% of the population (~7,671 people). This is slightly lower than the Greater Perth rate of 59.0%.

The most common medical diagnoses in the suburb are mental health conditions and arthritis, affecting 9.7% and 8.6% of residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 66.1% of the population reported no long-term health conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. The working-age cohort experiences elevated rates of chronic conditions. Residents aged 65 and older represent 18.5% of the population (2,524 people), which exceeds the Greater Perth level of 16.1%. Senior health profiles present challenges, with national percentiles tracking in line with the broader local 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

Cultural diversity in Waikiki is higher than the national average, with 9.1% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 32.2% of the population born outside Australia. The most common religious affiliation is Christianity, chosen by 43.6% of residents. The most pronounced religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.1% of the population, compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds based on parents' country of birth, the top three groups are English at 35.1% (substantially higher than the regional average of 28.0%), Australian at 25.2%, and Scottish at 7.6%. Specific divergences are also visible among other ethnic backgrounds, with Maori overrepresented at 1.9% of the population (compared to 0.9% regionally), New Zealand at 1.1% (compared to 0.8%), and South Australian at 0.9% (compared to 1.0%).

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

The median age in Waikiki is 39 years, slightly higher than the Greater Perth average of 37 and close to the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, the 55 - 64 age group is overrepresented at 14.6%, while the 25 - 34 cohort is underrepresented at 10.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 65 to 74 grew from 9.2% to 10.9%, and the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 4.4% to 5.9%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 group decreased from 14.3% to 12.6%, and the 25 to 34 group declined from 12.1% to 10.6%. Forecasts for 2041 point to significant changes, led by a 67% increase (544 people) in the 75 to 84 cohort, rising from 810 to 1,355. Demographic aging is expected to continue, with residents aged 65 and over accounting for 80% of projected growth, while the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 groups are forecast to contract.