  We calculate the expected lensing statistics of the galaxy population in
large, low-redshift surveys. Galaxies are modeled using realistic, multiple
components: a dark matter halo, a bulge component and disc. We use
semi-analytic models of galaxies coupled with dark matter haloes in the
Millennium Run to model the lens galaxy population. We predict that a fraction
of 1.4+/-0.18*10^-3 of radio sources will be lensed by galaxies within a survey
like the 2dF below z<0.2. With a simulated sample of lensed radio sources, the
predicted lensing galaxy population consists mainly of ellipticals (~80%) with
an average lens velocity dispersion of 164+/-3 km/s, producing typical image
separations of ~3 arcsec. The lens galaxy population lies on the fundamental
plane but its velocity dispersion distribution is shifted to higher values
compared to all early-type galaxies. Taking magnification bias into account, we
predict that the ratio of 4:2 image systems is 30+/-5%, consistent with the
observed ratio found in the Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey. We also find that the
population of 4-image lens galaxies is distinguishable from the population of
lens galaxies in 2-image systems. Our key result is the explicit demonstration
that the population of lens galaxies differs markedly from the galaxy
population as a whole: lens galaxies have a higher average luminosity and
reside in more massive haloes than the overall sample of ellipticals. This bias
restricts our ability to infer galaxy evolution parameters from a sample of
lensing galaxies. (abridged)
