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Greater Sydney vs Australian Capital Territory

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

Capital City comparison ≈ 240 km apart · Greater Sydney profile · Australian Capital Territory profile

Greater Sydney Australian Capital Territory

Greater Sydney and the Australian Capital Territory are both major urban hubs, but they differ in their people and how they work. Greater Sydney is more culturally diverse, with 38.6% of people born overseas and 37.4% using a language other than English at home. It is also a primary hub for remote work, where 38.9% of people work from home. In contrast, the Australian Capital Territory has a more highly qualified workforce, with 43% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, and a typical weekly income of $1,204, which is well higher than Greater Sydney's $881.

Both areas are very walkable, a trait that sits close to the national figure for accessibility. They also share similar proportions of children under 15 and have seen almost identical population growth since 2021. While some gaps remain steady, others are shifting; for example, the difference in the share of people working from home has widened significantly since 2016, while the gap in the number of people using another language at home has narrowed.

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Where they differ most

Work from home: 27.9 pts higher in Greater Sydney Population: 4,777,257 larger in Greater Sydney People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in Greater Sydney No religion: 13.5 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory Other language: 12.8 pts higher in Greater Sydney

Demographics & Identity

Population in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +4,777,257 larger in Greater Sydney gap steady

5,231,147 100th pct 453,890 72nd pct

Median age in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +2 yrs older in Greater Sydney gap widening

37 yrs 23rd pct 35 yrs 10th pct

Age structure

30.4% Young adults (25–44) +2.0 pts ▸ 32.4%

23.8% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.5 pts 22.4%

18.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.1 pts 18.3%

15.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +1.5 pts 13.7%

12.2% Youth (15–24) +1.1 pts ▸ 13.3%

Marital status

48.3% Married ◂ +1.5 pts 46.8%

36.4% Never married +2.8 pts ▸ 39.2%

7.8% Divorced ◂ +0.1 pts 7.7%

4.5% Widowed ◂ +0.8 pts 3.7%

2.9% Separated ◂ +0.4 pts 2.5%

Age & sex structure

Greater Sydney Australian Capital Territory

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

56.8% Australia +10.7 pts ▸ 67.5%

4.6% China ◂ +1.9 pts 2.7%

3.6% India +0.2 pts ▸ 3.8%

2.9% England even 2.9%

1.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.9 pts 0.9%

1.7% Philippines ◂ +0.6 pts 1.1%

1.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%

1.1% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.8% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

0.7% Italy ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Ancestry

23.8% English +8.2 pts ▸ 32.0%

22.3% Australian +9.2 pts ▸ 31.5%

7.7% Irish +3.9 pts ▸ 11.6%

10.6% Chinese ◂ +4.8 pts 5.7%

6.0% Scottish +4.0 pts ▸ 10.0%

4.5% Indian even 4.5%

4.3% Italian ◂ +0.9 pts 3.4%

2.3% German +1.9 pts ▸ 4.2%

2.5% Filipino ◂ +0.9 pts 1.6%

2.4% Greek ◂ +1.2 pts 1.2%

2.3% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 1.3%

0.9% Dutch +0.8 pts ▸ 1.7%

Language

Language used at home

57.3% English only +14.0 pts ▸ 71.3%

5.0% Mandarin ◂ +1.8 pts 3.2%

4.2% Arabic ◂ +3.3 pts 0.9%

2.8% Cantonese ◂ +1.8 pts 0.9%

2.2% Vietnamese ◂ +1.1 pts 1.1%

1.5% Hindi ◂ +0.4 pts 1.0%

1.4% Greek ◂ +0.8 pts 0.6%

0.8% Punjabi +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

1.0% Italian ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

0.9% Tagalog ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

Religion

Religious affiliation

45.8% Christianity ◂ +7.6 pts 38.1%

30.7% No religion +13.5 pts ▸ 44.2%

6.5% Not stated ◂ +0.9 pts 5.7%

6.3% Islam ◂ +3.1 pts 3.2%

4.8% Hinduism ◂ +0.3 pts 4.5%

3.8% Buddhism ◂ +1.0 pts 2.8%

1.3% Other religions even 1.3%

0.7% Judaism ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

66.9% Year 12 +10.2 pts ▸ 77.1%

14.8% Year 10 ◂ +4.3 pts 10.5%

8.2% Year 9 or below ◂ +4.0 pts 4.2%

3.9% Year 11 ◂ +0.4 pts 3.5%

Highest qualification level

33.2% Bachelor degree +0.7 pts ▸ 33.9%

14.3% Postgraduate degree +5.6 pts ▸ 19.9%

18.0% Certificate III / IV ◂ +3.0 pts 15.0%

14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.7 pts 13.0%

3.2% Graduate diploma / certificate +3.1 pts ▸ 6.3%

1.4% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.1 pts 1.3%

Field of qualification

24.6% Management & commerce ◂ +4.6 pts 20.1%

12.2% Society & culture +7.9 pts ▸ 20.1%

11.9% Engineering & related ◂ +3.5 pts 8.4%

8.8% Health ◂ +0.1 pts 8.7%

5.2% Information technology +2.3 pts ▸ 7.5%

6.7% Education +0.3 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.4% Natural & physical sciences +2.2 pts ▸ 5.6%

4.9% Architecture & building ◂ +1.0 pts 3.9%

4.8% Creative arts ◂ +0.5 pts 4.2%

4.0% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.6 pts 3.3%

1.1% Agriculture & environment +0.6 pts ▸ 1.6%

Income

Personal income in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +$323 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap widening

$881 58th pct $1,204 71st pct

Household income in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +$296 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap narrowing

$2,077 79th pct $2,373 87th pct

Family income in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +$498 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap widening

$2,374 81st pct $2,872 100th pct

Household income distribution

29.2% $1,500–$2,999 +3.4 pts ▸ 32.6%

18.5% $4,000 or more +3.4 pts ▸ 21.9%

21.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +4.2 pts 17.5%

11.7% $3,000–$3,999 +2.8 pts ▸ 14.5%

13.3% Under $650 ◂ +4.7 pts 8.6%

Personal income distribution

37.3% Under $650 ◂ +9.5 pts 27.8%

19.7% $1,500–$2,999 +10.1 pts ▸ 29.7%

29.4% $650–$1,499 +0.2 pts ▸ 29.7%

7.1% $3,000 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 7.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.6% Mental health +3.4 pts ▸ 10.0%

7.4% Other condition +2.3 pts ▸ 9.7%

6.8% Asthma +2.2 pts ▸ 9.0%

6.7% Arthritis +1.0 pts ▸ 7.7%

4.6% Diabetes ◂ +0.7 pts 3.9%

3.4% Heart disease ◂ +0.2 pts 3.1%

2.4% Cancer +0.3 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.2% Lung condition +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.7% Stroke even 0.7%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

69.1% None ◂ +3.1 pts 66.0%

16.7% One condition +3.2 pts ▸ 19.8%

4.6% Two conditions +1.2 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.3% Three or more +0.2 pts ▸ 2.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +82,031 larger in Greater Sydney

90,939 90th pct 8,908 58th pct

Median age in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory even

24 yrs 29th pct 24 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +$330 higher in Australian Capital Territory

$674 76th pct $1,004 88th pct

Household income in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +$510 higher in Australian Capital Territory

$1,779 78th pct $2,289 89th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +0.2 larger in Greater Sydney gap narrowing

2.7 90th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

62.5% Couples with children ◂ +2.6 pts 59.8%

23.3% Couples without children +4.0 pts ▸ 27.2%

13.1% One-parent families ◂ +1.2 pts 11.9%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

Household size

30.7% 2 people +2.0 pts ▸ 32.7%

23.2% 1 person +2.5 pts ▸ 25.7%

17.3% 4 people ◂ +0.9 pts 16.5%

17.2% 3 people ◂ +0.7 pts 16.5%

7.3% 5 people ◂ +1.3 pts 6.0%

4.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +$20 higher in Greater Sydney gap narrowing

$470 100th pct $450 97th pct

Mortgage in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +$347 higher in Greater Sydney gap widening

$2,427 100th pct $2,080 87th pct

People / bedroom in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +0.10 higher in Greater Sydney gap steady

0.90 86th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

33.3% Owned with a mortgage +6.9 pts ▸ 40.2%

35.9% Rented ◂ +5.3 pts 30.7%

27.8% Owned outright ◂ +1.1 pts 26.6%

1.7% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 1.6%

1.3% Not stated ◂ +0.5 pts 0.9%

Types of homes

55.8% Separate house +7.4 pts ▸ 63.2%

30.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +11.3 pts 19.4%

12.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +4.4 pts ▸ 17.2%

0.4% Other dwelling ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

Bedrooms per home

30.9% 3 bedrooms +6.2 pts ▸ 37.1%

24.1% 4 bedrooms +4.7 pts ▸ 28.8%

25.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +8.2 pts 17.5%

9.0% 5 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 7.1%

8.1% 1 bedroom +0.3 pts ▸ 8.4%

0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

43.0% $350–$549 +2.8 pts ▸ 45.8%

22.1% $550–$749 ◂ +0.9 pts 21.2%

12.6% $200–$349 ◂ +0.2 pts 12.4%

8.1% Under $200 +4.3 pts ▸ 12.5%

10.9% $750 or more ◂ +5.9 pts 5.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

32.5% $1,800–$2,999 +6.0 pts ▸ 38.5%

33.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +12.8 pts 20.9%

16.4% $1,000–$1,799 +9.2 pts ▸ 25.6%

10.9% Under $1,000 +0.2 pts ▸ 11.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +24,346 more in Greater Sydney

26,948 100th pct 2,602 44th pct

Stops/1k in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +0.58 more in Australian Capital Territory

5.15 66th pct 5.73 86th pct

Departures/1k in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +271.9 more in Greater Sydney

1,738.2 91st pct 1,466.3 76th pct

PT routes in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +709 more in Greater Sydney

809 100th pct 100 28th pct

How people get to work

34.2% Car (driver) +24.8 pts ▸ 59.0%

38.9% Worked at home ◂ +27.9 pts 10.9%

2.6% Car (passenger) +2.4 pts ▸ 5.0%

2.3% Walked +1.7 pts ▸ 4.0%

1.2% Bus +2.4 pts ▸ 3.6%

2.5% Train ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%

0.4% Bicycle +1.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

Motor vehicles per home

40.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.8 pts 39.2%

32.8% 2 vehicles +6.0 pts ▸ 38.7%

11.3% No vehicle ◂ +5.7 pts 5.6%

10.1% 3 vehicles +0.9 pts ▸ 11.0%

5.8% 4 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

5.5% Public administration & safety +24.3 pts ▸ 29.8%

13.4% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.9 pts 11.5%

10.9% Professional & technical even 10.9%

8.5% Education & training +0.9 pts ▸ 9.4%

8.8% Retail trade ◂ +2.4 pts 6.4%

8.2% Construction ◂ +1.5 pts 6.7%

7.0% Finance & insurance ◂ +5.6 pts 1.4%

5.5% Accommodation & food +0.9 pts ▸ 6.3%

5.4% Manufacturing ◂ +3.7 pts 1.7%

5.1% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.9 pts 2.1%

3.2% Wholesale trade ◂ +2.5 pts 0.8%

3.2% Administrative & support ◂ +0.6 pts 2.6%

Occupations people work in

29.3% Professionals +2.2 pts ▸ 31.5%

15.2% Managers +2.7 pts ▸ 17.9%

13.8% Clerical & administrative +0.8 pts ▸ 14.5%

9.3% Community & personal service +1.7 pts ▸ 10.9%

10.5% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.9 pts 9.6%

7.8% Sales workers ◂ +1.6 pts 6.1%

6.8% Labourers ◂ +1.8 pts 5.0%

5.6% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +3.2 pts 2.4%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +5,154,200 higher in Greater Sydney

5,638,830 100th pct 484,630 39th pct

Growth in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +0.1 pts higher in Greater Sydney

7.2% 72nd pct 7.1% 70th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +123 higher in Greater Sydney

1,031 86th pct 908 61st pct

Max temp in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +5.6 higher in Greater Sydney

25.3 57th pct 19.7 21st pct

Min temp in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +4.7 higher in Greater Sydney

10.7 46th pct 6.0 8th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +0.3 higher in Greater Sydney

7.2 100th pct 6.9 91st pct

Types ≤15 min in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +0.2 more in Greater Sydney

6.7 100th pct 6.5 91st pct

15-min city in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +2.1 pts higher in Greater Sydney

84.1% 100th pct 81.9% 90th pct

Walk to shops in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory even

80.2% 94th pct 80.0% 93rd pct

Walk to transit in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +1.6 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

96.0% 97th pct 97.6% 100th pct

Walk to school in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +2.7 pts higher in Greater Sydney

88.0% 100th pct 85.4% 92nd pct

Walk to a park in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +2.7 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

96.7% 88th pct 99.4% 100th pct

Walk to health in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +4.7 pts higher in Greater Sydney

69.0% 95th pct 64.3% 87th pct

Amenities/1k in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +5.7 more in Australian Capital Territory

13.5 10th pct 19.2 56th pct

Intersections/km² in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +12 higher in Australian Capital Territory

32 75th pct 44 83rd pct

Mean slope in Greater Sydney in Australian Capital Territory +1.6 pts higher in Greater Sydney

7.1% 81st pct 5.5% 54th 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 Australian Capital Territory with nearby areas

Greater Sydney Rest of NSW Greater Melbourne Rest of Vic. Rest of Tas. Greater Hobart Greater Brisbane Greater Adelaide Rest of Qld Rest of SA Rest of NT Rest of WA

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Greater Sydney vs Australian Capital Territory [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/gccsa/1GSYD/greater-sydney/vs/8ACTE/australian-capital-territory