National Forecasting Program

Population and housing forecast for Sydney – Northern Beaches

Our latest population and housing forecasts for Sydney – Northern Beaches, which covers the Northern Beaches council area, with urban centres including Manly, Dee Why and Mona Vale, and suburbs such as Brookvale, Frenchs Forest, Narrabeen, Avalon Beach and Palm Beach.

Region
Sydney – Northern Beaches · SA4 122
Councils
Northern Beaches
Built on
Earlier national forecast (2021.2022.1)
Released
10/07/2024
Status
Current
Boundaries
ASGS 2021 Ed. 3
Horizon
2046
  • Manly
  • Balgowlah
  • Freshwater
  • Brookvale
  • Dee Why
  • Collaroy
  • Narrabeen
  • Frenchs Forest
  • Belrose
  • Mona Vale
  • Avalon Beach
  • Palm Beach

Where this region sits

  1. Nation
    Australia
    +8.6m to 2046
    Population growth, 2021 to 2046
    2025 forecast
  2. State
    New South Wales
    +2.42m to 2046
    Population growth, 2021 to 2046
    2021.2022.x
  3. You are here: Region
    Sydney – Northern Beaches
    +38,714
    1.6% of New South Wales' growth
    2021.2022.1.1.1 · Jul 2024
  4. Below the region
    19 small areas, all forecast
    Small-area forecasts available through Placemaker.

New South Wales' share of national growth is set from the national drivers. This region's share of New South Wales is built from development assessed on the ground.

The forecast

  • 264,481

    Population, 2021

  • 303,195

    Population, 2046

  • +38,714

    Total growth to 2046

  • +14,702

    Additional dwellings

Population, dwellings and age structure, five-yearly

Five-year intervals shown; the forecast itself is a single-year series by single year of age and sex, available in full through Placemaker, along with a downloadable summary. We forecast the share aged 65 and over to move from 17.8% in 2021 to 23.7% in 2046.
PopulationDwellingsAge structure, %
YearTotalChangeTotalChange0–1415–6465+
2021264,481—105,017—18.763.517.8
2026274,685+10,204107,483+2,46617.164.018.9
2031282,585+7,900110,629+3,14616.063.520.5
2036290,181+7,596113,736+3,10715.962.221.9
2041297,086+6,905116,753+3,01716.060.923.1
2046303,195+6,109119,719+2,96616.359.923.7

What we assess, and where

Different things drive population change at different scales. We form a view at each level, and each level constrains the one below it.

  1. Nation
    • Overseas migration
    • Fertility and life expectancy
    • Housing completions
  2. State
    • Share of overseas migration
    • Interstate migration
    • State housing policy
  3. Region (this page)
    • Intrastate migration
    • Development pipeline
    • Capacity and limiting factors
    • Ageing in place
  4. Suburb and site
    • Site-by-site development assessment
    • Dwelling type and density

Housing capacity, by area

Sub-area (SA3)Area characterCapacity used by 2046
Manly95.5%
Pittwater86.9%
Warringah93.3%
Sydney – Northern Beaches total92.7%

How to read this

Capacity used is the share of an area's assessed dwelling capacity that the forecast draws down by 2046. Assessed capacity is post-census capacity across 131 tracked residential development sites, so it counts what those sites can hold, not every theoretical dwelling a planning control would permit.

The major sites that shape this forecast

SiteLocationTypeStatus
109 Frenchs Forest Road Frenchs Forest109 Frenchs Forest Road FRENCHS FORESTRedevelopmentStructure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density)
8-18 Ann Street Frenchs Forest8-18 Ann Street FRENCHS FORESTRedevelopmentStructure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density)
124 Frenchs Forest Road Frenchs Forest124 Frenchs Forest Road FRENCHS FORESTRedevelopmentStructure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density)
Lizard Rock Development SiteMorgan Road GreenfieldStructure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density)
Brookvale Structure Plan Mixed UseRoger Street RedevelopmentStructure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density)

Our forecasting team

Liza Ivanova

Liza Ivanova

Principal Forecast Consultant

Oliver Bowering

Oliver Bowering

Senior Forecast Consultant

Places covered by this forecast

The largest of the 53 suburbs and localities in this region. Every one of them is forecast at small-area level, and any combination can be built into a custom catchment through Placemaker.

  • Dee Why
  • Manly
  • Frenchs Forest
  • Mona Vale
  • Avalon Beach
  • Newport
  • Freshwater
  • Warriewood
  • Belrose
  • Forestville
  • Cromer
  • Narrabeen
  • Balgowlah
  • Collaroy
  • Beacon Hill
  • Seaforth
  • Allambie Heights
  • Narraweena
  • Manly Vale
  • Fairlight
  • + 33 more

Plus 33 more. Search for any suburb or locality on our forecast analysis page.

Common questions about the forecast for Sydney – Northern Beaches

A credible, independent forecast

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Independent of government

Our forecasts are not commissioned by any government, so they give an independent view.

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Granular forecasts for custom catchments

Forecast at small-area level, so they can be built up into any catchment you need, such as a school catchment, a retail trade area or a utility service area.

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Every region, on one basis

A single national model, not a collection of unconnected local studies.

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Assessed site by site

Built on a national development sites layer maintained by our own forecasters. 131 development sites assessed in this region alone.

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organisations across Australia trust Informed Decisions for data and insights

15,000+

suburbs forecast, covering every part of Australia

A named forecaster behind every region

Questions about a forecast go to the team who prepared it.

See the forecast for your exact area

Placemaker gives you the population, housing and development forecast for any catchment you draw inside this region, by single year, with the development pipeline behind it.