Lake Illawarra (NSW)

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Lake Illawarra's population is calculated to be approximately 3,412 as of May 2026, a figure determined by examining geographic demographic updates from the ABS alongside recent addresses verified by Districts since the Census. Since the 2021 Census recorded 3,288 residents, this represents an addition of 124 individuals (3.8%). This variation is derived from an Estimated Resident Population of 3,408 calculated by Districts using the June 2025 ABS ERP data release, combined with an additional 75 validated new addresses identified after the Census date. With this population level, the density stands at 2,043 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical ratio for national locations monitored by Districts. The suburb's post-Census growth of 3.8% trails the Rest of NSW (4.9%) by 1.1 percentage points, indicating competitive local growth drivers. Demographic expansion in recent times was mostly supported by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 57% of the overall population rise.

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Data aggregated by Districts indicates that Lake Illawarra possesses a balanced labour force divided between professional and manual roles, with a strong representation of essential services. The unemployment rate sits at 13.3%, and the area registered a 3.4% rise in estimated jobs over the past year. In March 2026, working residents numbered 1,384, though the unemployment rate is 9.2% higher than the Regional NSW rate of 4.1%, indicating room for progress, while labour force participation remains low (55.0% compared to Regional NSW's 60.6%). Census figures indicate that a modest 17.8% of the workforce operated from home, though this may reflect the influence of pandemic lockdowns.

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The most recent postcode-level data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year shows that incomes in the suburb of Lake Illawarra fall below the national average, with a median of $50,077 and an average of $61,416. This is lower than the Regional NSW median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Applying the 10.32% Wage Price Index growth since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to roughly $55,245 for the median and $67,754 for the average as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Lake Illawarra rank between the 5th and 12th percentiles across the country. In terms of income brackets, the $800 - 1,499 range is the most common, accounting for 27.3% of residents (931 people), which contrasts with the broader metropolitan area where the - bracket is largest at . Housing cost pressures are intense, leaving residents with only of their income, which ranks in the th percentile.

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According to the latest Census, residential structures in Lake Illawarra consisted of 50.2% houses and 49.8% alternative dwellings (such as townhouses, apartments, and other types), whereas Regional NSW recorded 82.6% houses and 17.4% alternative dwellings. Home ownership in Lake Illawarra was lower than the regional rate, standing at 28.0%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (21.7%) or tenants (50.3%). The median monthly home loan payment of $1,733 matched the Regional NSW median of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $328, compared to $330 regionally. On a national level, mortgage repayments in Lake Illawarra are below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are much lower than the national figure of $375.

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Families make up the majority of households at 58.4%, which includes 18.4% couples with children, 23.6% couples without children, and 15.3% single parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 41.6%, consisting of 38.5% sole occupant households and 3.2% group households. The median household size of 2.1 people is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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Educational attainment levels present difficulties for the area, as the tertiary qualification rate (12.2%) is much lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This situation highlights a hurdle but also presents a chance for focused learning programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher education qualification at 8.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational training is common, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding practical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (32.5%).

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Public transport services in Lake Illawarra feature 39 active transport stops consisting of bus services. These locations are served by 29 distinct routes, which provide a total of 740 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is high, with the average distance to a stop being 97 meters. As a residential suburb, most workers travel to other areas for employment, with private vehicles remaining the main choice at 95%. Households average 1.1 vehicles, which is lower than the regional average. About 17.8% of the workforce worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

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Significant health issues are apparent in Lake Illawarra, based on mortality statistics and the prevalence of chronic illnesses analyzed by Districts, showing that various health conditions impact both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is relatively low at approximately 51% of the population (~1,748 people).

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Lake Illawarra's cultural demographics are similar to the regional average, with citizens representing 86.9% of the population, 80.1% born in Australia, and 89.8% speaking only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, practiced by 53.6% of residents, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

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Lake Illawarra's median age of 42 years is close to the Regional NSW average of 43 and higher than the national median of 38 years. The demographic breakdown shows a high concentration of 25 - 34 year-olds (14.1%), whereas the 5 - 14 cohort is smaller (9.7%) than the regional trend. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 age bracket has risen from 13.1% to 14.1% of the population. In contrast, the 55 to 64 group dropped from 16.1% to 14.6%, and the 45 to 54 bracket declined from 11.6% to 10.1%. Population projections for indicate notable demographic shifts for Lake Illawarra. The to cohort is expected to grow the most, increasing by and adding residents to total . Meanwhile, the numbers of residents aged to and to are projected to decline.

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Lake Illawarra currently has an estimated 221 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 123 children aged 0-2 and 82 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 20% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 8% by 2041 (to approximately 239 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 310. Recent growth has been driven by high birth rates observed in the area, with approximately 12.6 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the top 30% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.