Lismore, located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, had a population of 28,816 in the 2021 census, with a small but significant portion of the population identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, making up 7.1% of the total population. The city has a diverse mix of cultural backgrounds, with the majority of residents (83.5%) being born in Australia. A number of residents also hail from overseas, with the most common countries of birth being England (2.1%), New Zealand (1.1%), the Philippines (0.6%), India (0.5%), and Germany (0.4%).

In terms of language, 87.7% of residents speak only English at home, with Italian being the next most common language at 0.5%.

Religious affiliation in Lismore shows a significant portion of the population identifying as non-religious (41.8%). The largest religious groups are Catholic (19.4%) and Anglican (11.8%). These figures reflect the diverse religious landscape within the community.

The population of Lismore reached its recent peak of 29,320 in June 2012, but since then, the population has gradually declined, with the 2021 figure being 28,816. Within the central area of Lismore, the population in 2021 was 3,656.

This demographic profile highlights the cultural diversity and evolving nature of Lismore's population, with a blend of long-established residents and newcomers from various parts of the world.