4,830,047 ▲ +12369.5%
Higher than 99% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 38,735
- 2016: 41,006
- 2021: 4,830,047
The number of people who usually live in the area, counted on Census night.
Sydney · Urban Area
Demographics & Identity in Sydney
Who lives here — how many people, how old they are, and how communities identify.
Nearly 4.8 million people live in Sydney, making it one of the largest areas in the country. The city is a bit younger than the national average, with the typical resident aged 37. This creates a diverse mix of age groups, dominated by young and middle-aged adults.
4,830,047
▲ +12369.5%
- 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 Sydney — higher than 99% of areas.
| Sydney | 4,830,047 |
|---|---|
| 2761, NSW | 34,702 |
| New South Wales | 8,072,163 |
| Australia | 25,422,788 |
Population
How many people, and the typical age.
The population has grown by a massive 12,369% since 2011, adding about 4,791,312 people. This brings the total to 4,830,047, which is among the largest for its level.
37 yrs → 0.0%
Younger than 79% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 37 yrs
- 2016: 37 yrs
- 2021: 37 yrs
Half the population is older than this age, and half younger.
Age profile
How the population splits across age groups.
Young adults aged 25 to 44 make up the biggest group at 31%. Meanwhile, the proportion of seniors aged 65 and over is 14.7%, which is much lower than most areas and a little below the national figure.
14.7% ▼ -10.6%
Lower than 84% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 16.4%
- 2016: 17.8%
- 2021: 14.7%
Share of the population aged 65 years and over.
18.4% ▼ -12.9%
Higher than 57% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 21.1%
- 2016: 20.5%
- 2021: 18.4%
Share of the population aged under 15 years.
Age structure
View on map →In Sydney, the largest group is Young adults (25–44) at 31%, followed by Older adults (45–64) (24%) and Children (0–14) (18%).
Identity & relationships
First Nations identity and marital status.
About 1.5% of residents identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is a little below the state and national figures. In terms of relationships, 48.6% are married, while 9.5% are in a de facto relationship, a figure that is among the lowest for its level.
1.5% ▼ -84.5%
Lower than 96% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 9.6%
- 2016: 11.3%
- 2021: 1.5%
Share of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
9.5% ▼ -8.0%
Lower than 99% of urban area areas.
- 2011: 10.3%
- 2016: 11.0%
- 2021: 9.5%
Share of people aged 15+ who are in a de facto marriage (registered marriages excluded).
Marital status
View on map →In Sydney, the largest group is Married at 49%, followed by Never married (37%) and Divorced (8%).
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/sua/1031/sydney/topic/demographics-identity