10,914 ▼ -30.7%
Lower than 90% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 15,741
- 2016: 16,746
- 2021: 10,914
The number of people who usually live in the area, counted on Census night.
Byron Bay · Urban Area
Demographics & Identity in Byron Bay
Who lives here — how many people, how old they are, and how communities identify.
A shrinking population of 10,914 people defines the current social landscape of Byron Bay. The area has become much younger over the last decade, with the typical resident now aged 39. This shift is paired with a very high number of couples living together without being married compared to the rest of the country.
10,914
▼ -30.7%
- 1,666–2,215: 1 area
- 2,215–2,944: 0 areas
- 2,944–3,914: 0 areas
- 3,914–5,203: 1 area
- 5,203–6,917: 0 areas
- 6,917–9,196: 0 areas
- 9,196–12,225: 6 areas
- 12,225–16,252: 16 areas
- 16,252–21,605: 17 areas
- 21,605–28,721: 14 areas
- 28,721–38,182: 7 areas
- 38,182–50,758: 12 areas
- 50,758–67,478: 4 areas
- 67,478–89,704: 6 areas
- 89,704–119,252: 4 areas
- 119,252–158,533: 3 areas
- 158,533–210,752: 2 areas
- 210,752–280,172: 2 areas
- 280,172–372,458: 4 areas
- 372,458–495,142: 2 areas
- 495,142–658,237: 1 area
- 658,237–875,054: 3 areas
- 875,054–1,163,289: 1 area
- 1,163,289–1,546,466: 1 area
- 1,546,466–2,055,858: 0 areas
- 2,055,858–2,733,039: 2 areas
- 2,733,039–3,633,278: 0 areas
- 3,633,278–4,830,047: 2 areas
All urban area areas, 2021. The marker is Byron Bay — lower than 90% of areas.
| Byron Bay | 10,914 |
|---|---|
| 2481, NSW | 13,659 |
| New South Wales | 8,072,163 |
| Australia | 25,422,788 |
Population
How many people, and the typical age.
The total population shrank by 31% since 2011, losing about 4,827 people. This has coincided with a significant age drop, as the typical resident is now 12 years younger than they were in 2011.
39 yrs ▼ -23.5%
Younger than 57% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 51 yrs
- 2016: 55 yrs
- 2021: 39 yrs
Half the population is older than this age, and half younger.
Age profile
How the population splits across age groups.
Children under 15 make up 13.7% of the population, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%. Meanwhile, the proportion of people aged 65 and over fell by 12 points since 2011 to reach 17.2%.
17.2% ▼ -40.5%
Lower than 74% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 28.9%
- 2016: 33.9%
- 2021: 17.2%
Share of the population aged 65 years and over.
13.7% ▼ -17.9%
Lower than 97% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 16.7%
- 2016: 14.2%
- 2021: 13.7%
Share of the population aged under 15 years.
Age structure
View on map →In Byron Bay, the largest group is Young adults (25–44) at 35%, followed by Older adults (45–64) (25%) and Seniors (65+) (17%).
Identity & relationships
First Nations identity and marital status.
De facto relationships are very common here at 17.9%, a figure well above the 11.5% national average. In contrast, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is much lower than most areas at 1.8%.
1.8% ▼ -34.1%
Lower than 88% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 2.8%
- 2016: 3.1%
- 2021: 1.8%
Share of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
17.9% ▲ +110.2%
Higher than 92% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 8.5%
- 2016: 9.2%
- 2021: 17.9%
Share of people aged 15+ who are in a de facto marriage (registered marriages excluded).
Marital status
View on map →In Byron Bay, Never married is the majority at 52%; Married is next at 30%.
Age & sex structure
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Byron Bay
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Demographics & Identity in Byron Bay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sua/1008/byron-bay/topic/demographics-identity