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Greater Sydney vs Greater Darwin

Name: Greater Sydney vs Greater Darwin — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Capital City comparison ≈ 3,083 km apart · Greater Sydney profile · Greater Darwin profile

Greater Sydney Greater Darwin

Greater Sydney and Greater Darwin are both major regional hubs, but they differ sharply in their work habits and diversity. Greater Sydney is far more international, with 38.6% of people born overseas and 37.4% using another language at home. It also has a massive share of remote workers, with 38.9% working from home compared to just 4.3% in Greater Darwin. In contrast, Greater Darwin has a much larger First Nations population at 10.4% and a higher share of people reporting no religion, at 42.1%.

Both areas are very similar in their home sizes, with about 2.7 people per home, and both sit near the national figure for the share of people living alone. While they are thousands of kilometres apart, they have tracked similarly with population growth since 2021, both rising by over 7%. Some gaps are closing, such as the difference in weekly personal income, which has narrowed since 2016, while the gap in people with no religion has widened.

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Where they differ most

De facto: 6.4 pts higher in Greater Darwin Work from home: 34.5 pts higher in Greater Sydney Population: 5,091,245 larger in Greater Sydney First Nations: 8.7 pts higher in Greater Darwin Other language: 13.8 pts higher in Greater Sydney

Demographics & Identity

Population in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +5,091,245 larger in Greater Sydney gap steady

5,231,147 100th pct 139,902 60th pct

Median age in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +3 yrs older in Greater Sydney gap steady

37 yrs 23rd pct 34 yrs 6th pct

Age structure

30.4% Young adults (25–44) +4.0 pts ▸ 34.3%

23.8% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.2 pts 23.6%

18.4% Children (0–14) +1.8 pts ▸ 20.2%

15.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +5.3 pts 9.9%

12.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.3 pts 11.9%

Marital status

48.3% Married ◂ +6.0 pts 42.3%

36.4% Never married +6.6 pts ▸ 43.1%

7.8% Divorced +0.4 pts ▸ 8.2%

4.5% Widowed ◂ +1.5 pts 3.0%

2.9% Separated +0.5 pts ▸ 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Greater Sydney Greater Darwin

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

56.8% Australia +7.0 pts ▸ 63.8%

4.6% China ◂ +3.6 pts 1.0%

1.7% Philippines +2.0 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.6% India ◂ +0.9 pts 2.7%

2.9% England ◂ +0.2 pts 2.7%

1.1% Nepal +0.7 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.8% Vietnam ◂ +1.0 pts 0.8%

1.6% New Zealand +0.1 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.8% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.7% Italy ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

Ancestry

22.3% Australian +6.6 pts ▸ 28.9%

23.8% English +3.9 pts ▸ 27.7%

10.6% Chinese ◂ +6.3 pts 4.3%

7.7% Irish +0.9 pts ▸ 8.5%

6.0% Scottish +1.4 pts ▸ 7.5%

2.5% Filipino +2.4 pts ▸ 4.9%

4.5% Indian ◂ +1.7 pts 2.8%

4.3% Italian ◂ +1.9 pts 2.3%

2.3% German +1.8 pts ▸ 4.1%

2.4% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.3% Vietnamese ◂ +1.2 pts 1.0%

0.9% Dutch +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

Language

Language used at home

57.3% English only +9.4 pts ▸ 66.7%

5.0% Mandarin ◂ +3.5 pts 1.5%

4.2% Arabic ◂ +4.0 pts 0.2%

2.8% Cantonese ◂ +2.3 pts 0.5%

1.4% Greek +0.9 pts ▸ 2.3%

2.2% Vietnamese ◂ +1.2 pts 0.9%

0.9% Tagalog +0.9 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.5% Hindi ◂ +0.9 pts 0.5%

1.0% Italian ◂ +0.7 pts 0.4%

0.8% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Religion

Religious affiliation

45.8% Christianity ◂ +8.8 pts 36.9%

30.7% No religion +11.4 pts ▸ 42.1%

6.5% Not stated +4.5 pts ▸ 11.0%

6.3% Islam ◂ +4.2 pts 2.1%

4.8% Hinduism ◂ +1.1 pts 3.7%

3.8% Buddhism ◂ +0.9 pts 3.0%

1.3% Other religions ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

0.7% Judaism ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

66.9% Year 12 ◂ +9.0 pts 57.9%

14.8% Year 10 +0.3 pts ▸ 15.1%

3.9% Year 11 +6.5 pts ▸ 10.4%

8.2% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.6 pts 6.7%

Highest qualification level

33.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +9.0 pts 24.2%

18.0% Certificate III / IV +9.0 pts ▸ 27.0%

14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.5 pts 13.2%

14.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +4.0 pts 10.3%

3.2% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.9 pts ▸ 4.1%

1.4% Certificate I / II +0.9 pts ▸ 2.3%

Field of qualification

24.6% Management & commerce ◂ +5.9 pts 18.7%

11.9% Engineering & related +2.7 pts ▸ 14.6%

12.2% Society & culture ◂ +0.3 pts 11.9%

8.8% Health +2.0 pts ▸ 10.8%

6.7% Education +0.7 pts ▸ 7.4%

5.2% Information technology ◂ +2.2 pts 3.0%

4.9% Architecture & building ◂ +0.7 pts 4.2%

4.8% Creative arts ◂ +2.6 pts 2.2%

4.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.7 pts ▸ 4.7%

3.4% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.0 pts 2.4%

1.1% Agriculture & environment +1.1 pts ▸ 2.2%

Income

Personal income in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +$239 higher in Greater Darwin gap narrowing

$881 58th pct $1,120 68th pct

Household income in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +$132 higher in Greater Darwin gap narrowing

$2,077 79th pct $2,209 85th pct

Family income in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +$111 higher in Greater Darwin gap narrowing

$2,374 81st pct $2,485 87th pct

Household income distribution

29.2% $1,500–$2,999 +3.6 pts ▸ 32.8%

21.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.3 pts 18.4%

18.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +3.4 pts 15.1%

11.7% $3,000–$3,999 +1.8 pts ▸ 13.4%

13.3% Under $650 ◂ +3.8 pts 9.5%

Personal income distribution

37.3% Under $650 ◂ +10.4 pts 27.0%

29.4% $650–$1,499 +2.5 pts ▸ 31.9%

19.7% $1,500–$2,999 +6.0 pts ▸ 25.7%

7.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.2 pts 4.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.4% Other condition ◂ +0.9 pts 6.5%

6.8% Asthma ◂ +0.7 pts 6.1%

6.7% Arthritis ◂ +1.4 pts 5.3%

6.6% Mental health ◂ +0.7 pts 5.9%

4.6% Diabetes ◂ +0.8 pts 3.7%

3.4% Heart disease ◂ +0.9 pts 2.4%

2.4% Cancer ◂ +0.5 pts 1.9%

1.2% Lung condition even 1.2%

0.7% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

69.1% None ◂ +0.8 pts 68.3%

16.7% One condition ◂ +1.8 pts 14.8%

4.6% Two conditions ◂ +0.9 pts 3.7%

2.3% Three or more ◂ +0.6 pts 1.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +76,400 larger in Greater Sydney

90,939 90th pct 14,539 64th pct

Median age in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +1 yrs older in Greater Darwin

24 yrs 29th pct 25 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +$25 higher in Greater Darwin

$674 76th pct $699 80th pct

Household income in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +$89 higher in Greater Darwin

$1,779 78th pct $1,868 86th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +0.1 larger in Greater Sydney gap steady

2.7 90th pct 2.6 86th pct

Family composition

62.5% Couples with children ◂ +3.3 pts 59.2%

23.3% Couples without children +1.7 pts ▸ 25.0%

13.1% One-parent families +1.6 pts ▸ 14.6%

1.2% Other families even 1.2%

Household size

30.7% 2 people +1.2 pts ▸ 31.9%

23.2% 1 person +0.2 pts ▸ 23.4%

17.2% 3 people +0.9 pts ▸ 18.1%

17.3% 4 people ◂ +1.4 pts 15.9%

7.3% 5 people ◂ +0.5 pts 6.8%

4.2% 6 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 3.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +$85 higher in Greater Sydney gap widening

$470 100th pct $385 82nd pct

Mortgage in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +$327 higher in Greater Sydney gap widening

$2,427 100th pct $2,100 88th pct

People / bedroom in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin even gap steady

0.90 86th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

35.9% Rented +7.9 pts ▸ 43.8%

33.3% Owned with a mortgage +2.4 pts ▸ 35.7%

27.8% Owned outright ◂ +10.4 pts 17.3%

1.3% Not stated +0.4 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.7% Other tenure ◂ +0.3 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

55.8% Separate house +7.5 pts ▸ 63.3%

30.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +5.7 pts 25.0%

12.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +2.3 pts 10.5%

0.4% Other dwelling +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

Bedrooms per home

30.9% 3 bedrooms +10.0 pts ▸ 40.9%

25.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.9 pts 22.8%

24.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +2.3 pts 21.8%

9.0% 5 or more ◂ +3.3 pts 5.7%

8.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +2.0 pts 6.1%

0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Weekly rent distribution

43.0% $350–$549 ◂ +2.3 pts 40.7%

12.6% $200–$349 +14.6 pts ▸ 27.2%

22.1% $550–$749 ◂ +8.1 pts 14.0%

10.9% $750 or more ◂ +7.7 pts 3.2%

8.1% Under $200 +2.1 pts ▸ 10.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

32.5% $1,800–$2,999 +7.4 pts ▸ 39.9%

33.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +14.8 pts 18.9%

16.4% $1,000–$1,799 +9.2 pts ▸ 25.7%

10.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +0.4 pts 10.4%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +26,279 more in Greater Sydney

26,948 100th pct 669 13th pct

Stops/1k in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +0.37 more in Greater Sydney

5.15 66th pct 4.78 56th pct

Departures/1k in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +937.1 more in Greater Sydney

1,738.2 91st pct 801.1 52nd pct

PT routes in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +734 more in Greater Sydney

809 100th pct 75 16th pct

How people get to work

34.2% Car (driver) +33.6 pts ▸ 67.8%

38.9% Worked at home ◂ +34.5 pts 4.3%

2.6% Car (passenger) +3.3 pts ▸ 5.9%

2.3% Walked +1.4 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.5% Train ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%

1.2% Bus +1.1 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.4% Bicycle +1.3 pts ▸ 1.7%

Motor vehicles per home

40.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +6.1 pts 34.0%

32.8% 2 vehicles +6.7 pts ▸ 39.5%

10.1% 3 vehicles +3.5 pts ▸ 13.6%

11.3% No vehicle ◂ +5.7 pts 5.6%

5.8% 4 or more +1.5 pts ▸ 7.4%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

5.5% Public administration & safety +13.2 pts ▸ 18.7%

13.4% Health care & social assistance +0.2 pts ▸ 13.6%

10.9% Professional & technical ◂ +5.4 pts 5.5%

8.8% Retail trade ◂ +1.5 pts 7.3%

8.2% Construction +0.6 pts ▸ 8.8%

8.5% Education & training ◂ +0.2 pts 8.3%

5.5% Accommodation & food +2.2 pts ▸ 7.7%

7.0% Finance & insurance ◂ +5.8 pts 1.1%

5.4% Manufacturing ◂ +2.8 pts 2.6%

5.1% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.6 pts 4.4%

3.2% Other services +0.7 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.2% Wholesale trade ◂ +1.6 pts 1.7%

Occupations people work in

29.3% Professionals ◂ +7.6 pts 21.7%

15.2% Managers ◂ +2.2 pts 13.0%

9.3% Community & personal service +5.4 pts ▸ 14.7%

10.5% Technicians & trades +4.0 pts ▸ 14.5%

13.8% Clerical & administrative +0.4 pts ▸ 14.2%

6.8% Labourers +1.0 pts ▸ 7.8%

7.8% Sales workers ◂ +0.8 pts 7.0%

5.6% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.2 pts 5.4%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +5,479,546 higher in Greater Sydney

5,638,830 100th pct 159,284 13th pct

Growth in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +0.5 pts higher in Greater Darwin

7.2% 72nd pct 7.6% 75th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +621 higher in Greater Darwin

1,031 86th pct 1,652 100th pct

Max temp in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +9.0 higher in Greater Darwin

25.3 57th pct 34.4 96th pct

Min temp in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +11.4 higher in Greater Darwin

10.7 46th pct 22.1 100th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +1.4 higher in Greater Sydney

7.2 100th pct 5.9 69th pct

Types ≤15 min in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +1.2 more in Greater Sydney

6.7 100th pct 5.5 66th pct

15-min city in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +13.2 pts higher in Greater Sydney

84.1% 100th pct 70.9% 71st pct

Walk to shops in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +10.2 pts higher in Greater Sydney

80.2% 94th pct 70.0% 71st pct

Walk to transit in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +10.7 pts higher in Greater Sydney

96.0% 97th pct 85.3% 70th pct

Walk to school in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +15.5 pts higher in Greater Sydney

88.0% 100th pct 72.5% 66th pct

Walk to a park in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +11.5 pts higher in Greater Sydney

96.7% 88th pct 85.2% 60th pct

Walk to health in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +15.1 pts higher in Greater Sydney

69.0% 95th pct 53.9% 70th pct

Amenities/1k in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +8.5 more in Greater Darwin

13.5 10th pct 22.0 86th pct

Intersections/km² in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +25 higher in Greater Sydney

32 75th pct 8 50th pct

Mean slope in Greater Sydney in Greater Darwin +3.3 pts higher in Greater Sydney

7.1% 81st pct 3.9% 19th pct

Compare Greater Sydney with nearby areas

Australian Capital Territory Rest of NSW Greater Melbourne Greater Brisbane Rest of Vic. Rest of Tas. Greater Hobart Greater Adelaide Rest of Qld Rest of SA Rest of NT Greater Darwin

Compare Greater Darwin with nearby areas

Rest of NT Rest of WA Rest of Qld Rest of SA Greater Adelaide Greater Perth Rest of NSW Other Territories Greater Brisbane Rest of Vic. Greater Sydney Greater Melbourne

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Greater Sydney vs Greater Darwin [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/gccsa/1GSYD/greater-sydney/vs/7GDAR/greater-darwin