Fastest Growing Chinese Suburb Population Ranking 2025

Australia's Chinese communities are concentrated in specific suburbs across Sydney and Melbourne, with populations ranging from a few thousand to over 16,000 residents. According to the most recent ABS Census 2021 data, Melbourne CBD has the largest Chinese population of any single suburb in Australia at 16,763 residents (30.5%), closely followed by Glen Waverley at 16,188 (38.0%). In NSW, Hurstville leads with 14,691 Chinese residents, representing a remarkable 47.1% of its total population. Across both states, these suburbs far exceed the state averages of approximately 5% for NSW and 4.3% for VIC.

This report ranks the suburbs with the largest Chinese populations in New South Wales and Victoria, drawing exclusively from ABS Census 2021 data. Note: ABS Census 2021 is a point-in-time snapshot; growth rate data between Census periods is not available at the suburb level. The suburbs ranked here are those with the largest established Chinese communities as of 2021 — which are also the communities with the longest track record of population presence and cultural infrastructure. Whether you are looking for established Chinese communities with mature infrastructure or suburbs where Chinese Australians have a significant presence, this data provides a comprehensive snapshot of where Chinese Australians call home.

Key Findings

• Melbourne CBD tops the national list with 16,763 Chinese residents (30.5% of its population), making it the single suburb with the most Chinese residents in Australia according to ABS Census 2021 data.
• Eastwood has the highest Chinese concentration in NSW at 48.8%, nearly 10 times the state average of approximately 5%. Eastwood is one of only three NSW suburbs where Chinese residents make up close to or more than half the population.
• Box Hill leads VIC for concentration at 46.6% Chinese population, the highest percentage in Victoria. Box Hill has become a cultural hub for Chinese Australians in Melbourne's east.
• The top 15 NSW suburbs collectively house over 129,000 Chinese residents, with seven suburbs exceeding 40% Chinese population. In comparison, the top 15 VIC suburbs account for approximately 126,000 Chinese residents.
• Sydney's Chinese population clusters are more geographically concentrated, primarily across the Inner West, Northern Suburbs, and St George regions. Melbourne's clusters span a wider arc from the CBD through the eastern and southeastern suburbs. Explore the full suburb profiles at the AU Guide NSW Suburb Directory and AU Guide VIC Suburb Directory.

Data Overview

The table below combines the top 20 suburbs across NSW and VIC, ranked by total Chinese population. All figures are sourced from ABS Census 2021, the most recent comprehensive demographic dataset available for Australian suburbs.

Source: ABS Census 2021. Ranked by total Chinese population (ancestry response). State averages: NSW ~5%, VIC ~4.3%.

In-Depth Analysis

NSW: Sydney's Chinese Population Hubs

New South Wales is home to some of Australia's most established Chinese communities. The top 15 NSW suburbs by Chinese population reveal two distinct patterns: high-concentration suburbs where Chinese residents form a dominant cultural group, and large-population suburbs where Chinese communities are significant but part of a broader multicultural mix.

High-Concentration Suburbs (Over 40% Chinese)

Five NSW suburbs have Chinese populations exceeding 40% of their total residents, according to ABS Census 2021:

• Eastwood (48.8%) — The highest Chinese concentration in NSW. Eastwood's main shopping strip is dominated by Chinese restaurants, supermarkets, and professional services. The suburb is well-known for its weekend yum cha culture and proximity to quality schools.
• Burwood (48.3%) — A major commercial and transport hub in the Inner West. Nearly half of Burwood's residents are of Chinese ancestry, supported by extensive Chinese-language services and a thriving food scene centred around Burwood Road.
• Hurstville (47.1%) — With 14,691 Chinese residents, Hurstville has both the largest Chinese population and one of the highest concentrations in NSW. The suburb serves as an unofficial Chinatown for southern Sydney, with a dense cluster of Chinese businesses around the train station.
• Chatswood (42.4%) — A major commercial centre on the North Shore, Chatswood combines Chinese community life with premium shopping and dining. The suburb benefits from excellent rail connections and proximity to top-performing schools in the surrounding area.
• Carlingford (40.6%) — Located in the Hills District, Carlingford's Chinese population of 11,395 makes it the third-largest Chinese community in NSW by numbers. The suburb is particularly popular with families drawn to its school catchment zones.

Large-Population, Moderate-Concentration Suburbs

Several suburbs have substantial Chinese populations in absolute terms but lower percentages due to larger total populations or greater ethnic diversity:

• Auburn (8,574 / 21.8%) — One of Sydney's most multicultural suburbs, Auburn's Chinese community coexists with significant Middle Eastern and South Asian populations.
• Castle Hill (8,248 / 20.2%) — A Hills District suburb where Chinese residents make up about a fifth of the population, attracted by larger homes, newer developments, and the Sydney Metro Northwest connection.
• Baulkham Hills (6,566 / 17.5%) — Adjacent to Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills has a lower Chinese concentration but still hosts a significant community, particularly families seeking access to selective schools.

Source: ABS Census 2021. "vs NSW Avg" compares Chinese percentage against the statewide average of approximately 5%.

VIC: Melbourne's Chinese Population Centres

Victoria's Chinese population is distributed differently from NSW. While Sydney's communities tend to cluster in established inner and middle-ring suburbs, Melbourne's Chinese residents are spread across a wider geographic range, from the CBD to outer suburbs like Point Cook in the west.

Melbourne's Eastern Corridor Dominance

The most striking feature of Melbourne's Chinese population distribution is the dominance of the eastern suburbs. Of the top 15 VIC suburbs, eight are located in Melbourne's east, forming a continuous corridor from Box Hill through to Glen Waverley and beyond:

• Glen Waverley (16,188 / 38.0%) — The largest Chinese community outside the CBD, Glen Waverley is renowned for its schools, particularly Glen Waverley Secondary College. The suburb's Chinese population is more than 8 times the VIC state average of 4.3%.
• Doncaster East (11,748 / 38.0%) — Matching Glen Waverley's concentration at 38.0%, Doncaster East features a family-oriented Chinese community with strong school connections.
• Doncaster (9,161 / 36.6%) — Adjacent to Doncaster East, the two Doncasters together account for over 20,900 Chinese residents, forming one of Melbourne's largest contiguous Chinese community areas.
• Box Hill (6,684 / 46.6%) — The highest Chinese concentration in VIC. Box Hill's central shopping area has earned it the informal title of Melbourne's Chinatown East, with hundreds of Chinese-owned businesses.

Beyond the East: CBD and Western Suburbs

Melbourne CBD holds the largest Chinese population in VIC at 16,763 residents, driven largely by international students and young professionals. Unlike the family-oriented eastern suburbs, the CBD's Chinese population tends to be younger and more transient.

Point Cook stands out as the only western suburb in the top 15, with 9,567 Chinese residents. At 14.3%, its Chinese concentration is lower than the eastern suburbs but still more than three times the VIC average. Point Cook represents a newer settlement pattern, with families attracted by more affordable housing and modern infrastructure in Melbourne's growing western corridor.

Source: ABS Census 2021. "vs VIC Avg" compares Chinese percentage against the statewide average of approximately 4.3%.

Concentration vs Absolute Numbers

There is an important distinction between suburbs with the highest Chinese population by total numbers and those with the highest Chinese percentage. Some suburbs rank highly on one measure but not the other:

• Box Hill ranks 18th by population (6,684) but 1st in VIC by concentration (46.6%).
• Point Cook ranks 8th overall by population (9,567) but has one of the lower concentrations (14.3%), reflecting its large total population in a rapidly growing area.
• Auburn in NSW has a large Chinese population (8,574) but at 21.8% is below the top-concentration tier, as it is one of Sydney's most diverse multicultural suburbs.
• Eastwood has the highest concentration in NSW (48.8%) but ranks 11th overall by population (9,129), as it is a smaller suburb by total area.

Regional Comparison

Grouping suburbs by region reveals clear geographic patterns in how Chinese communities have established themselves across Sydney and Melbourne.

Sydney Regions

Sydney's Northern Suburbs dominate, with five of the top 15 suburbs and a combined Chinese population exceeding 50,000. This region benefits from proximity to Macquarie University, well-regarded public and selective schools, and established Chinese commercial precincts in Chatswood and Eastwood.

The Inner West cluster (Campsie, Burwood, Lidcombe, Strathfield) forms a connected Chinese community belt along the T3 Bankstown Line and T1 Western Line, offering strong public transport connections and relatively more affordable housing compared to the Northern Suburbs.

The Hills District (Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills) represents a different settlement pattern. Here, Chinese families have been drawn to larger homes, newer developments, and access to the Sydney Metro Northwest. While the Chinese concentration is lower (around 17-20%), the absolute numbers are substantial.

Melbourne Regions

Melbourne East overwhelmingly dominates, with eight of the top 15 suburbs and a combined Chinese population of nearly 80,000. This corridor along the eastern freeway and Monash Freeway is characterised by established family communities, access to high-performing schools, and a dense network of Chinese supermarkets, restaurants, and community organisations.

The Melbourne Southeast cluster (Keysborough, Wheelers Hill, Springvale, Clayton) offers comparatively more affordable housing and is anchored by Monash University's Clayton campus. Springvale has long been a hub for Asian communities, while Keysborough and Wheelers Hill attract families seeking newer homes with good school access.

Sydney vs Melbourne: Key Differences

• Concentration: Sydney has more suburbs with very high Chinese percentages (3 suburbs above 47%), while Melbourne's highest is Box Hill at 46.6%. However, Melbourne's eastern corridor has more consistently high concentrations across a larger geographic area.
• Geographic spread: Sydney's Chinese communities are distributed across more regions (6 distinct areas), while Melbourne's are more concentrated in the east (8 of 15 suburbs).
• CBD influence: Melbourne CBD has the single largest Chinese population (16,763), partly driven by international students. Sydney does not have a CBD suburb in its top 15, reflecting a more suburban settlement pattern.
• Outer suburbs: Melbourne has Point Cook as a notable western outer suburb entry, suggesting expansion beyond traditional eastern enclaves. Sydney's outer suburban representation is via Castle Hill and Baulkham Hills in the northwest Hills District.

What This Means for Families

For families seeking to live in suburbs with established Chinese communities, the ABS Census 2021 data provides useful guidance across several dimensions:

Cultural Infrastructure and Daily Life

Suburbs with higher Chinese concentrations (above 30%) typically offer more comprehensive Chinese-language services, including bilingual medical practitioners, Chinese-language media, and community organisations. Suburbs like Hurstville, Eastwood, Burwood, Box Hill, and Glen Waverley have particularly well-developed Chinese commercial precincts that cater to daily needs.

Education Access

Many of the suburbs with large Chinese populations are also located near high-performing schools. The Northern Suburbs cluster in Sydney (Epping, Carlingford, Chatswood, Eastwood) is particularly known for school quality, with multiple selective and high-performing comprehensive schools in the area. In Melbourne, Glen Waverley, Balwyn North, and the Doncaster suburbs are all associated with strong academic outcomes. Explore school data and rankings on the AU Guide NSW School Rankings and AU Guide VIC School Rankings pages.

Community Size vs Community Intensity

A high absolute Chinese population does not always mean a high concentration. Families should consider what matters more to them:

• High concentration (e.g., Eastwood at 48.8%, Box Hill at 46.6%) means Chinese culture is the dominant community flavour, with the most extensive Chinese-language services and social networks.
• Large population, moderate concentration (e.g., Point Cook at 14.3%, Castle Hill at 20.2%) means a significant Chinese community exists within a more diverse setting, which some families may prefer for their children's social and linguistic development.

Practical Considerations

When evaluating these suburbs, families should use AU Guide's comprehensive suburb profiles, which include school data, safety statistics, transport options, and property information. Visit the NSW Suburb Directory or VIC Suburb Directory to explore detailed profiles for each suburb listed in this report.

Who Is This Report Suitable For?

Suitable for:

• Families relocating to Australia who want to join an established Chinese community with cultural infrastructure, bilingual services, and community organisations
• Parents seeking suburbs with a high Chinese concentration (40%+) where Mandarin or Cantonese is widely spoken in shops, medical centres, and schools
• Investors researching suburbs with historically strong Chinese community demand, such as Hurstville, Chatswood, Glen Waverley, and Box Hill
• Researchers and journalists seeking suburb-level demographic data on Chinese-Australian population distribution

Not suitable for:

• Families looking for growth rate data — this report covers largest populations as of ABS Census 2021, not inter-Census growth trends
• Buyers focused purely on school quality without considering cultural community factors — see AU Guide NSW School Rankings and AU Guide VIC School Rankings for school-first analysis
• Families with a strict budget constraint — many top-ranked suburbs (Hurstville, Chatswood, Glen Waverley) have median house prices significantly above state medians; see AU Guide individual suburb profiles for full pricing data

FAQ

What is the most recent data available for Chinese population by suburb in Australia?

The most recent comprehensive dataset is the ABS Census 2021, which recorded ancestry responses at the suburb level across all of Australia. This is the data source used throughout this report. The next Census is scheduled for 2026, which will provide updated figures. While population estimates are published between Census years, they do not include detailed ancestry breakdowns by suburb.

Which suburb has the highest Chinese population in Australia?

Based on ABS Census 2021 data, Melbourne CBD has the largest Chinese population of any single suburb at 16,763 residents (30.5% of the suburb's population). In NSW, Hurstville leads with 14,691 Chinese residents (47.1%).

Which suburb has the highest percentage of Chinese residents?

In NSW, Eastwood has the highest Chinese concentration at 48.8%, followed by Burwood at 48.3% and Hurstville at 47.1%. In VIC, Box Hill leads with 46.6%, followed by Glen Waverley and Doncaster East, both at 38.0%.

Are there suburbs with growing Chinese populations outside Sydney and Melbourne?

While Sydney and Melbourne host the vast majority of Australia's Chinese population, other cities also have notable Chinese communities. Brisbane suburbs such as Sunnybank and Robertson, and Adelaide's Chinatown precinct are examples. However, this report focuses on NSW and VIC, where AU Guide's comprehensive suburb data is available. The ABS Census 2021 provides ancestry data for all Australian suburbs.

How does Chinese population concentration affect property prices?

Suburbs with large Chinese populations often see strong demand for housing, particularly from families seeking proximity to Chinese-language schools, cultural amenities, and community networks. However, property prices are influenced by many factors including transport infrastructure, school quality, and overall supply. AU Guide does not provide investment advice. Visit individual suburb profiles for the latest property data from domain.com.au.

What does "Chinese population" mean in the Census data?

The ABS Census records ancestry based on self-identification. The "Chinese" category includes respondents who nominated Chinese ancestry, regardless of their country of birth. This includes people born in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia, as well as those from other countries who identify as having Chinese ancestry. Each respondent can nominate up to two ancestries.

Why are some suburbs missing from this ranking?

This report covers the top 15 suburbs by Chinese population in each state (NSW and VIC). Many other suburbs also have significant Chinese communities but did not make the top 15 cut-off. For example, suburbs like Rhodes, Homebush, and Ashfield in NSW, or Caulfield and Chadstone in VIC, have notable Chinese populations. Use the AU Guide Suburb Directory to explore demographic data for any suburb.

Data Sources

• ABS Census 2021 — Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Chinese ancestry population by suburb (Statistical Area Level 2).
• AU Guide — Suburb profiles, school rankings, and demographic data for NSW and VIC.

Note: All population figures in this report are based on ABS Census 2021 ancestry responses. The Chinese population counts reflect the number of residents who identified Chinese as one of their ancestries. Percentages are calculated against the total population of each suburb. The next Census is scheduled for 2026.