Urban Area · Area profile
Sydney
4,197 km²
A far higher proportion of people were born overseas in Sydney compared to the rest of the country. The city has grown rapidly, adding over 4.7 million people since 2011. It is a highly educated and high-earning hub where young adults make up the largest age group. This mix of global migration and professional success creates a distinctive, fast-paced urban character.
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The typical resident is 37, making the area a little younger than both the state and the nation. While the population has surged, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has fallen sharply since 2011 to 1.5%.
Born-overseas residents make up 40.6% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 27.7%. This diversity is reflected in the ancestry, with English, Australian, and Chinese being the most common.
Language diversity is very high, with 40% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far above the national average, and the number of people who speak little or no English has risen to 6.9%.
About 30% of residents have no religion, which is well below the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 45.3%.
The workforce is highly qualified, with 34.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the national average, and 68.5% of residents have completed Year 12.
Typical weekly household incomes are $2,119, which is a little above the national figure. This wealth is reflected in the 31.1% of households earning $3,000 or more per week, a significant rise since 2011.
Residents report fewer long-term health issues than most other areas. Only 22.8% have a long-term condition, which is well below the national figure of 27.7%.
Volunteer rates are among the lowest for this level at 11.6%, which is a little below the national figure. Unpaid care for children is around the middle for its level at 25.1%.
Homes tend to be more crowded than usual, with 2.7 people per home. While couples with children are common, the number of people living alone has fallen to 22.9%.
Renting is much more common here than elsewhere, with 36.8% of households in rentals. Many residents face high costs, with typical weekly rents at $475 and typical monthly mortgage payments at $2,500.
Working from home is very common at 39.9%, far above the national figure of 21%. This shift is consistent with a higher number of homes without any motor vehicle, which ever since 2011 has risen to 11.7%.
The area is quite mobile, with 41.3% of people moving in the last five years. This is about the same as the national figure, and recent overseas arrivals make up 15.5% of the population.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas. Professionals make up 30% of the workforce, and the most common industry is health care and social assistance.
The area is very walkable, with 86.7% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed. Almost all residents live within a short walk of public transport, parks, and schools.