City Statistics

Estimated Residential Population (ERP)

The estimated residential population for Lake Macquarie as at March 2011 is 200,849. Source: Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2009–10 (cat. no. 3218.0).

Population by Local Government Area, 1996 to 2006 (Final)

The ERP links people to a place of usual residence, where each person has lived or intends to live for six months or more from the reference date for data collection.

Estimates of the resident population are based on census counts by place of usual residence (excluding overseas visitors in Australia), with an allowance for net census undercount, to which are added the number of Australian residents estimated to have been temporarily overseas at the time of the census.

Our Aboriginal Community

With a population of 4,297, the City of Lake Macquarie has the 2nd largest Aboriginal community in NSW.

2006 Census Data

Use of the census data is interactive, as queries and a comparative analysis of different census collection years, and local government areas, is possible.

Suburb Data for Lake Macquarie

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Census Data is available at a suburb level for Lake Macquarie.

2006 Census Data by Location

Select a suburb from the list provided.

Once this form has been submitted, you will be redirected to the ABS 2006 Census Data website.

Population Projections and Targets for Lake Macquarie

It is important to distinguish population projections from population targets. Population targets are an aim that the Government has set itself and the community, which is often coupled with deliberate policy actions to assist in meeting the target. In contrast, population projections are a view of future populations based on historical trends, current settlements patterns, and demographic modelling techniques. It is highly likely that Government responses to issues raised by projections, as well as other unforseen societal changes, may result in a future population that is different in size, composition or distribution to the projections presented.

1) The Lower Hunter Regional Strategy (Population Targets)

The Lower Hunter Regional Strategy, released by the NSW Department of Planning in October 2006, is a strategy that guides planning in the five local government areas of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Maitland, and Cessnock for the period 2006 – 2031. The NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure are currently reviewing the document.

At a Glance
Table A. Population, Dwellings, Jobs, and Town Centre Projections
Area Additional People New Homes New Jobs Regional Centres
Lower Hunter 160,000 115,000 66,000 6 major regional centres, 1 regional city
Lake Macquarie 60,000 36,000
refer to Table B for breakdown		 12,200 3 major regional centres, 6 main town centres, 2 renewal corridors
Table B. Dwelling Capacity Projections
Area Centres and Corridors Urban Infill Total Infill New Release Total Dwellings
Lake Macquarie 14,000 7,000 21,000 15,000 36,000
Total for the Lower Hunter 32,000 16,000 48,000 69,200 117,200
Lake Macquarie as a percentage of the Lower Hunter 43.8 43.8 43.8 21.7 30.7

2) NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure (Past and Projected Population)

The NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure provide population and housing projections, including population projections at a statistical local area for Lake Macquarie and the city's three wards East, North and West.