# New South Wales

State / Territory · Area profile

Area: 800,798 km²

A significantly larger population than any other state, New South Wales is home to over 8 million people. It is a highly educated and relatively affluent community, with more people holding degrees and earning high incomes than the national figure. The state has grown by 17% since 2011, attracting many overseas arrivals and professional workers. This has created a diverse, urbanised population where many people now work from home.

## Demographics & Identity

The typical resident is 39, making the population a little older than the national figure. While the number of children under 15 has fallen slightly since 2011, the proportion of seniors aged 65 and over has risen to 17.6%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 8,072,163 | +16.7% since 2011 |
| Median age | 39 yrs | +2.6% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 3.4% | +38.0% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 17.6% | +19.9% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 18.2% | -5.5% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 10.6% | +27.2% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Young adults (25–44) 27.8%, Older adults (45–64) 24.5%, Children (0–14) 18.2%, Seniors (65+) 17.6%, Youth (15–24) 11.8%

**Marital status** — Married 47.3%, Never married 35.7%, Divorced 8.6%, Widowed 5.1%, Separated 3.2%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Overseas birth is common here, with 29.3% of people born outside Australia. This is a little above the national figure and has risen by 3.6 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 29.3% | +14.0% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 65.4%, China 3.1%, England 2.9%, India 2.6%, New Zealand 1.5%, Philippines 1.3%, Vietnam 1.2%, Nepal 0.8%, South Africa 0.6%, Italy 0.6%

**Ancestry** — English 29.8%, Australian 28.6%, Irish 9.1%, Scottish 7.7%, Chinese 7.2%, Italian 3.7%, Indian 3.2%, German 3.0%, Filipino 1.9%, Greek 1.8%, Vietnamese 1.5%, Dutch 1.1%

## Language

Language diversity is well above the national average, with 26.6% of people using a language other than English at home. This increase is consistent with the high number of overseas-born residents.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 26.6% | +18.3% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 4.5% | -0.4% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 67.6%, Mandarin 3.4%, Arabic 2.8%, Cantonese 1.8%, Vietnamese 1.5%, Hindi 1.0%, Greek 1.0%, Italian 0.8%, Punjabi 0.7%, Tagalog 0.6%

## Religion

People with no religion make up 33.2% of the population, which is well below the national figure. However, this group has grown significantly, rising by 15 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 33.2% | +85.1% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 47.6%, No religion 33.2%, Not stated 7.1%, Islam 4.3%, Hinduism 3.4%, Buddhism 2.8%, Other religions 1.1%, Judaism 0.5%

## Education & Qualifications

Education levels are much higher than in most other areas. Roughly 27.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, and 58.9% have completed Year 12.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 58.9% | +19.7% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 27.8% | +40.3% since 2011 |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 58.9%, Year 10 19.7%, Year 9 or below 9.6%, Year 11 4.9%

**Highest qualification level** — Bachelor degree 28.8%, Certificate III / IV 23.4%, Advanced diploma / diploma 14.6%, Postgraduate degree 11.5%, Graduate diploma / certificate 3.2%, Certificate I / II 1.7%

**Field of qualification** — Management & commerce 21.8%, Engineering & related 12.9%, Society & culture 11.8%, Health 9.5%, Education 7.4%, Architecture & building 5.3%, Food, hospitality & personal services 4.4%, Creative arts 4.2%, Information technology 4.0%, Natural & physical sciences 2.9%, Agriculture & environment 1.8%

## Income

Incomes are generally high, with a typical weekly household earning $1,829. The proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week has risen sharply by 14 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $813 | +44.9% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,829 | +47.9% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,185 | +47.9% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 13.5% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 25.2% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 28.6%, $650–$1,499 24.6%, Under $650 15.3%, $4,000 or more 14.7%, $3,000–$3,999 10.5%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 39.0%, $650–$1,499 30.1%, $1,500–$2,999 18.0%, $3,000 or more 5.7%

## Health & Disability

Health patterns are around the middle for similar areas, with 27% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is about the same as the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 27.0% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 8.0% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 5.8% | +17.7% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 8.4%, Mental health 8.0%, Other condition 7.8%, Asthma 7.8%, Diabetes 4.8%, Heart disease 3.9%, Cancer 2.8%, Lung condition 1.7%, Stroke 0.9%, Dementia 0.8%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 64.9%, One condition 18.3%, Two conditions 5.7%, Three or more 3.0%

## Community Participation

Volunteer rates have fallen to 13%, which is a little below the national figure. Meanwhile, about 21.2% of people do 15 or more hours of unpaid housework weekly.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 13.0% | -23.0% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 11.5% | +0.6% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 25.3% | -8.1% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 2.3% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 21.2% | -3.0% since 2011 |

## First Nations

The state has the highest number of First Nations people among its peers. Local First Nations households earn a typical $1,558 weekly, which is about the same as the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 278,043 | — |
| First Nations median age | 23 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 35.0% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 9.8% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $600 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,558 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 4.0% | — |

## Family & Households

Homes here are slightly larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home. This is a little higher than the national figure of 2.5.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.6 | +0.0% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 14.0% | -3.1% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 25.0% | +2.9% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 59.0%, Couples without children 25.8%, One-parent families 14.0%, Other families 1.1%

**Household size** — 2 people 32.8%, 1 person 25.0%, 3 people 16.1%, 4 people 15.7%, 5 people 6.8%, 6 or more 3.7%

## Housing & Dwellings

Housing costs are high, with typical weekly rents at $420 and typical monthly mortgage payments at $2,167, both of which are above the national figures.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $420 | — |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $2,167 | +8.7% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.90 | -18.2% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 32.6% | +8.3% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 31.5% | -5.0% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 65.6% | -5.6% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 68.6% | -1.0% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Rented 32.6%, Owned with a mortgage 32.5%, Owned outright 31.5%, Other tenure 1.9%, Not stated 1.5%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 65.6%, Flat or apartment 21.7%, Townhouse / semi-detached 11.7%, Other dwelling 0.7%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 34.7%, 4 bedrooms 25.6%, 2 bedrooms 22.7%, 5 or more 8.3%, 1 bedroom 6.6%, Studio / none 0.7%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $350–$549 41.2%, $200–$349 19.4%, $550–$749 17.4%, Under $200 10.5%, $750 or more 8.0%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,800–$2,999 31.7%, $3,000 or more 26.1%, $1,000–$1,799 22.2%, Under $1,000 13.7%

## Transport & Vehicles

Working from home has surged to 31%, well above the national figure. The state also has the highest number of public transport routes and stops in the country.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 9.2% | -15.0% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 31.0% | +579.3% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 2.7% | -73.4% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 42,519 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 5.27 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 1,313.6 | — |
| Public transport routes | 1,481 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 43.1%, Worked at home 31.0%, Car (passenger) 3.2%, Walked 2.5%, Train 1.7%, Bus 0.9%, Bicycle 0.4%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 1 vehicle 38.4%, 2 vehicles 34.6%, 3 vehicles 11.2%, No vehicle 9.2%, 4 or more 6.6%

## Migration & Movement

Movement is steady, with 39.9% of people having moved in the last five years. This is about the same as the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 39.9% | +8.3% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 14.9% | -8.2% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Health care and social assistance are the biggest employers. The unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is a little below the national figure of 5.1%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | -16.8% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 58.7% | -1.7% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 58.0% | -9.4% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 14.4%, Retail trade 9.0%, Professional & technical 8.9%, Education & training 8.7%, Construction 8.6%, Accommodation & food 6.2%, Public administration & safety 6.1%, Manufacturing 5.5%, Finance & insurance 5.3%, Transport & warehousing 4.6%, Other services 3.4%, Administrative & support 3.2%, Wholesale trade 2.8%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 2.0%, Media & telecommunications 1.8%, Rental & real estate 1.7%, Arts & recreation 1.4%, Electricity, gas & water 1.0%, Mining 1.0%

**Occupations people work in** — Professionals 25.8%, Managers 14.6%, Clerical & administrative 13.0%, Technicians & trades 11.9%, Community & personal service 10.6%, Labourers 8.2%, Sales workers 8.0%, Machinery operators & drivers 6.0%

## Economy & Advantage

With a population of over 8.5 million, the state is the largest in the country and has grown by 6.1% since 2021.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Population estimate | 8,592,524 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | 6.1% | — |

## Environment & Climate

The environment is characterised by an average annual rainfall of 515mm, which is much higher than most other similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 515 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 25.2 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 10.0 | — |

## Walkability

The area is very walkable, with 85.7% of homes within a 10 minute walk of public transport. Most residents also live within 15 minutes of a park or school.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 6.2 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 5.8 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 71.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 67.7% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 85.7% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 76.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 89.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 57.1% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 14.7 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 1 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 6.8% | — |

## Areas within New South Wales

[Greater Sydney](https://censusatlas.au/region/gccsa/1GSYD/greater-sydney) · [Migratory - Offshore - Shipping](https://censusatlas.au/region/gccsa/19799/migratory-offshore-shipping) · [No usual address](https://censusatlas.au/region/gccsa/19499/no-usual-address) · [Rest of NSW](https://censusatlas.au/region/gccsa/1RNSW/rest-of-nsw)

## Nearby areas

[Australian Capital Territory](https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/8/australian-capital-territory) · [Victoria](https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/2/victoria) · [Tasmania](https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/6/tasmania) · [Queensland](https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/3/queensland) · [South Australia](https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/4/south-australia) · [Northern Territory](https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/7/northern-territory) · [Western Australia](https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/5/western-australia) · [Other Territories](https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/9/other-territories)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/ste/1/new-south-wales