204,215 ▲ +59.7%
Higher than 99% of federal electorate areas.
- 2011: 127,857
- 2016: 200,181
- 2021: 204,215
The number of people who usually live in the area, counted on Census night.
Sydney · Federal Electorate
Demographics & Identity in Sydney
Who lives here — how many people, how old they are, and how communities identify.
A typical resident in Sydney is just 33, making the area noticeably younger than both the state and national figures. This shift is part of a rapid transformation, with the population growing by 60% since 2011 to reach 204,215 people.
204,215
▲ +59.7%
- 1–2: 3 areas
- 2–2: 0 areas
- 2–4: 0 areas
- 4–6: 0 areas
- 6–9: 0 areas
- 9–14: 2 areas
- 14–21: 1 area
- 21–33: 0 areas
- 33–51: 1 area
- 51–79: 0 areas
- 79–122: 1 area
- 122–189: 1 area
- 189–293: 0 areas
- 293–453: 0 areas
- 453–702: 2 areas
- 702–1,086: 0 areas
- 1,086–1,681: 1 area
- 1,681–2,602: 0 areas
- 2,602–4,028: 2 areas
- 4,028–6,235: 0 areas
- 6,235–9,652: 2 areas
- 9,652–14,940: 2 areas
- 14,940–23,126: 0 areas
- 23,126–35,796: 0 areas
- 35,796–55,409: 0 areas
- 55,409–85,768: 0 areas
- 85,768–132,761: 7 areas
- 132,761–205,501: 144 areas
All federal electorate areas, 2021. The marker is Sydney — higher than 99% of areas.
| Sydney | 204,215 |
|---|---|
| Rest of NSW | 2,829,637 |
| New South Wales | 8,072,163 |
| Australia | 25,422,788 |
Population
How many people, and the typical age.
The population has grown by about 76,358 people since 2011. This growth has seen the typical age drop significantly, from 42 in 2011 to 33 today.
33 yrs ▼ -21.4%
Younger than 96% of federal electorate areas.
- 2011: 42 yrs
- 2016: 32 yrs
- 2021: 33 yrs
Half the population is older than this age, and half younger.
Age profile
How the population splits across age groups.
This area has far fewer children and seniors than the national average, with only 7.7% under 15 and 9.2% aged 65 and over. Over half the population (51%) are young adults aged 25 to 44.
9.2% ▼ -53.6%
Lower than 96% of federal electorate areas.
- 2011: 19.8%
- 2016: 7.7%
- 2021: 9.2%
Share of the population aged 65 years and over.
7.7% ▼ -58.8%
Lower than 93% of federal electorate areas.
- 2011: 18.7%
- 2016: 6.8%
- 2021: 7.7%
Share of the population aged under 15 years.
Age structure
View on map →In Sydney, Young adults (25–44) is the majority at 51%; Older adults (45–64) is next at 19%.
Identity & relationships
First Nations identity and marital status.
De facto relationships are far more common here than in the rest of Australia, at 23.3%. Meanwhile, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 1.5%, which is a little below the state and national figures.
1.5% ▼ -51.9%
Lower than 63% of federal electorate areas.
- 2011: 3.0%
- 2016: 1.2%
- 2021: 1.5%
Share of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
23.3% ▲ +169.8%
Higher than 99% of federal electorate areas.
- 2011: 8.6%
- 2016: 19.5%
- 2021: 23.3%
Share of people aged 15+ who are in a de facto marriage (registered marriages excluded).
Marital status
View on map →In Sydney, Never married is the majority at 63%; Married is next at 25%.
Age & sex structure
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Sydney
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Demographics & Identity in Sydney [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ced/CED142/sydney/topic/demographics-identity