# Lakemba

State Electorate · Area profile

Located in: New South Wales › Greater Sydney

Area: 24 km²

A huge population growth of 40% since 2011 has made Lakemba one of the largest communities of its kind in the region. It is a remarkably young and diverse place, with a typical resident aged just 34 and nearly half the population born overseas. Many households are large and multi-generational, which helps explain the high number of children and the crowded nature of the housing. This creates a busy, high-density atmosphere where most residents live within a short walk of shops and transport.

## Demographics & Identity

The area is much younger than the national figure, with 21.9% of people under 15 and a typical age of 34. This youthfulness is reflected in the population structure, while the proportion of seniors has fallen to 13.7%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 96,008 | +39.9% since 2011 |
| Median age | 34 yrs | -12.8% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 0.5% | +62.2% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 13.7% | -13.5% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 21.9% | +13.9% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 3.4% | -52.8% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Young adults (25–44) 29.7%, Children (0–14) 21.9%, Older adults (45–64) 21.6%, Seniors (65+) 13.7%, Youth (15–24) 13.2%

**Marital status** — Married 50.4%, Never married 33.4%, Divorced 7.7%, Widowed 4.7%, Separated 3.9%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Nearly half of all residents (49.4%) were born overseas, a figure far above the national average that has risen 19 points since 2011. The most common ancestries include Australian, Chinese, and English.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 49.4% | +60.9% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 43.5%, China 4.5%, Vietnam 3.7%, India 3.2%, Philippines 1.2%, New Zealand 0.9%, Italy 0.7%, Nepal 0.6%, England 0.3%, South Africa 0.1%

**Ancestry** — Australian 11.3%, Chinese 9.6%, English 7.7%, Indian 4.5%, Vietnamese 4.4%, Greek 4.1%, Italian 2.5%, Filipino 1.6%, Irish 1.5%, Scottish 1.1%, German 0.5%, Dutch 0.1%

## Language

Language diversity is very high, with 68% of people using a language other than English at home, including 24.7% who speak Arabic. This is far above the national figure, although the proportion of people speaking little or no English fell slightly to 14%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 68.0% | +192.5% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 14.0% | -6.1% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — Arabic 24.7%, English only 23.9%, Vietnamese 4.5%, Cantonese 3.9%, Mandarin 3.7%, Greek 3.3%, Hindi 1.0%, Italian 1.0%, Tagalog 0.7%, Punjabi 0.2%

## Religion

Islam is the most common religion at 41.6%, and Christianity follows at 32.4%. Those reporting no religion make up 11.3%, which is far below the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 11.3% | -47.6% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Islam 41.6%, Christianity 32.4%, No religion 11.3%, Not stated 8.7%, Buddhism 4.0%, Hinduism 1.6%, Other religions 0.4%, Judaism 0.0%

## Education & Qualifications

The area has a high number of school enrolments and 61% of residents finished Year 12, which is a little above the national figure. However, the proportion of adults with a bachelor degree fell 16 points since 2011 to 23.3%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 61.0% | -14.5% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 23.3% | -40.0% since 2011 |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 1.29 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 27 | — |
| School enrolments | 17,770 | — |
| Average school size | 658 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 1,022 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 61.0%, Year 9 or below 14.1%, Year 10 12.6%, Year 11 3.3%

**Highest qualification level** — Bachelor degree 28.7%, Certificate III / IV 16.8%, Advanced diploma / diploma 15.4%, Postgraduate degree 12.5%, Graduate diploma / certificate 2.0%, Certificate I / II 1.6%

**Field of qualification** — Management & commerce 22.4%, Engineering & related 11.2%, Society & culture 11.0%, Health 6.7%, Information technology 6.2%, Education 6.1%, Food, hospitality & personal services 4.8%, Architecture & building 4.5%, Natural & physical sciences 3.1%, Creative arts 2.4%, Agriculture & environment 0.6%

## Income

Typical incomes are much lower than in most other areas, with the typical household earning $1,332 a week. Only 4.5% of people earn $2,000 or more weekly, which is well below the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $524 | -38.1% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,332 | -32.7% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,471 | -42.0% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 4.5% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 14.2% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $650–$1,499 31.2%, $1,500–$2,999 26.9%, Under $650 20.8%, $3,000–$3,999 7.1%, $4,000 or more 7.1%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 51.6%, $650–$1,499 28.2%, $1,500–$2,999 9.4%, $3,000 or more 1.3%

## Health & Disability

While 20.5% of people have a long-term health condition—well below the national figure—the number of people needing help with daily activities rose to 7.4% since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 20.5% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 4.7% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 7.4% | +85.7% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Other condition 7.2%, Diabetes 6.2%, Arthritis 5.9%, Asthma 5.4%, Mental health 4.7%, Heart disease 3.2%, Cancer 1.6%, Lung condition 1.1%, Dementia 0.8%, Stroke 0.8%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 69.6%, One condition 14.0%, Two conditions 4.1%, Three or more 2.4%

## Community Participation

Volunteer rates are among the lowest at this level at 7%, falling 15 points since 2011. Unpaid care for children and housework is also lower than the state and national figures.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 7.0% | -68.8% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 11.0% | -4.4% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 23.2% | -21.7% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 0.5% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 18.0% | -14.8% since 2011 |

## Family & Households

Homes are often crowded, with 3.1 people per household, which is a little above the national figure. One-parent families have also increased to 15.8% since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 3.1 | +19.2% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 15.8% | +65.6% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 21.4% | -15.8% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 68.4%, One-parent families 15.8%, Couples without children 14.4%, Other families 1.4%

**Household size** — 2 people 23.4%, 1 person 21.4%, 3 people 17.2%, 4 people 16.9%, 5 people 11.0%, 6 or more 10.1%

## Housing & Dwellings

Renters make up 44.2% of the community, far above the national average, while separate houses are much less common here than elsewhere. Overcrowding is evident, as there are 1.1 people per bedroom.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $360 | -14.3% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $2,106 | -24.8% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 1.10 | +0.0% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 44.2% | +55.5% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 25.2% | -29.2% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 48.6% | -17.6% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 56.2% | -10.3% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Rented 44.2%, Owned with a mortgage 26.9%, Owned outright 25.2%, Not stated 2.2%, Other tenure 1.5%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 48.6%, Flat or apartment 34.8%, Townhouse / semi-detached 15.9%, Other dwelling 0.5%

**Bedrooms per home** — 2 bedrooms 34.4%, 3 bedrooms 32.0%, 4 bedrooms 17.4%, 5 or more 6.8%, 1 bedroom 6.4%, Studio / none 0.8%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $350–$549 38.0%, $200–$349 26.3%, Under $200 16.4%, $550–$749 12.7%, $750 or more 2.5%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,800–$2,999 31.6%, $3,000 or more 23.5%, $1,000–$1,799 22.0%, Under $1,000 13.8%

## Transport & Vehicles

Public transport use is higher than most areas, and 13.5% of homes have no motor vehicle. Working from home has grown significantly since 2011 to 26.1%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 13.5% | +31.3% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 26.1% | +350.1% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 4.5% | -76.2% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 441 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 4.59 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 1,295.8 | — |
| Public transport routes | 28 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 40.6%, Worked at home 26.1%, Train 3.9%, Car (passenger) 3.7%, Walked 1.8%, Bus 0.6%, Bicycle 0.1%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 1 vehicle 40.6%, 2 vehicles 29.2%, No vehicle 13.5%, 3 vehicles 10.3%, 4 or more 6.4%

## Migration & Movement

The community is relatively stable, as the proportion of people who moved in the last five years fell to 34.2%, which is well below the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 34.2% | -11.0% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 13.8% | -2.9% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

The unemployment rate is 9.8%, well above the national figure, and those working or looking for work fell to 43.8%. Most residents work in health care, retail, or transport.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 9.8% | +159.9% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 43.8% | -32.1% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 47.3% | -28.6% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 12.9%, Retail trade 12.2%, Transport & warehousing 8.9%, Construction 7.6%, Education & training 7.4%, Professional & technical 7.0%, Accommodation & food 6.0%, Manufacturing 5.8%, Public administration & safety 5.3%, Finance & insurance 4.8%, Other services 3.9%, Administrative & support 3.4%, Wholesale trade 3.0%, Media & telecommunications 1.6%, Rental & real estate 1.4%, Arts & recreation 0.9%, Electricity, gas & water 0.5%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 0.2%, Mining 0.1%

**Occupations people work in** — Professionals 20.8%, Clerical & administrative 14.3%, Technicians & trades 11.4%, Community & personal service 11.2%, Sales workers 10.3%, Labourers 10.1%, Machinery operators & drivers 9.5%, Managers 9.5%

## Walkability

Lakemba is very walkable, with 99.9% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport and 96.7% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 7.6 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 7.4 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 99.2% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 96.7% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 99.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 97.5% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 100.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 70.0% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 7.9 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 242 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 4.8% | — |

## Schools serving Lakemba

27 schools, 17,770 students, average ICSEA 1,022.

By sector: Government 15, Independent 8, Catholic 4

By type: Primary 17, Combined 5, Secondary 5

Nearest 10 shown:

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| St Charbel's College | Independent | Combined | 0.5 km | 1,198 |
| Greenacre Public School | Government | Primary | 0.7 km | 611 |
| Holy Saviour School | Independent | Primary | 0.8 km | 298 |
| Al Sadiq College | Independent | Combined | 0.9 km | 771 |
| Wiley Park Girls High School | Government | Secondary | 1.0 km | 589 |
| Rissalah College | Independent | Combined | 1.0 km | 946 |
| Mount Lewis Infants School | Government | Primary | 1.1 km | 173 |
| Wiley Park Public School | Government | Primary | 1.1 km | 550 |
| Lakemba Public School | Government | Primary | 1.1 km | 428 |
| Hampden Park Public School | Government | Primary | 1.1 km | 859 |

## Nearby areas

[Strathfield](https://censusatlas.au/region/sed/SED10077/strathfield) · [Canterbury](https://censusatlas.au/region/sed/SED10015/canterbury) · [Bankstown](https://censusatlas.au/region/sed/SED10005/bankstown) · [Oatley](https://censusatlas.au/region/sed/SED10062/oatley) · [Auburn](https://censusatlas.au/region/sed/SED10002/auburn) · [East Hills](https://censusatlas.au/region/sed/SED10027/east-hills) · [Kogarah](https://censusatlas.au/region/sed/SED10040/kogarah) · [Drummoyne](https://censusatlas.au/region/sed/SED10025/drummoyne)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sed/SED10043/lakemba