4,698,656 ▲ +20.2%
Higher than 99% of urban centre areas.
- 2011: 3,908,642
- 2016: 4,321,535
- 2021: 4,698,656
The number of people who usually live in the area, counted on Census night.
Sydney · Urban Centre
Demographics & Identity in Sydney
Who lives here — how many people, how old they are, and how communities identify.
A much younger population than most other areas defines Sydney, where the typical resident is just 36. The city has seen massive growth, adding about 790,014 people since 2011 to reach a total population of 4,698,656.
4,698,656
▲ +20.2%
- 1–2: 3 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–5: 0 areas
- 5–9: 0 areas
- 9–16: 2 areas
- 16–27: 1 area
- 27–47: 2 areas
- 47–81: 2 areas
- 81–139: 14 areas
- 139–241: 145 areas
- 241–418: 340 areas
- 418–723: 351 areas
- 723–1,252: 304 areas
- 1,252–2,168: 191 areas
- 2,168–3,752: 181 areas
- 3,752–6,495: 107 areas
- 6,495–11,242: 69 areas
- 11,242–19,459: 44 areas
- 19,459–33,683: 31 areas
- 33,683–58,304: 17 areas
- 58,304–100,921: 8 areas
- 100,921–174,689: 8 areas
- 174,689–302,378: 4 areas
- 302,378–523,401: 5 areas
- 523,401–905,982: 2 areas
- 905,982–1,568,210: 1 area
- 1,568,210–2,714,494: 2 areas
- 2,714,494–4,698,656: 2 areas
All urban centre areas, 2021. The marker is Sydney — higher than 99% of areas.
| Sydney | 4,698,656 |
|---|---|
| 2165, NSW | 45,046 |
| New South Wales | 8,072,163 |
| Australia | 25,422,788 |
Population
How many people, and the typical age.
The population grew by 20% between 2011 and 2021. This growth occurred while the typical age remained low, though it rose by one year to 36.
36 yrs ▲ +2.9%
Younger than 82% of urban centre areas.
- 2011: 35 yrs
- 2016: 35 yrs
- 2021: 36 yrs
Half the population is older than this age, and half younger.
Age profile
How the population splits across age groups.
Seniors aged 65 and over make up 14.5% of the population, which is well below the New South Wales figure of 17.6%. Meanwhile, children under 15 represent 18.4%, a figure about the same as the national average.
14.5% ▲ +17.8%
Lower than 77% of urban centre areas.
- 2011: 12.3%
- 2016: 13.3%
- 2021: 14.5%
Share of the population aged 65 years and over.
18.4% ▼ -3.6%
Higher than 57% of urban centre areas.
- 2011: 19.1%
- 2016: 18.6%
- 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.
People in de facto relationships make up 9.5% of the population, which is a little below the Australian average of 11.5%. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represent 1.4%, which is much lower than most other areas.
1.4% ▲ +32.1%
Lower than 85% of urban centre areas.
- 2011: 1.1%
- 2016: 1.2%
- 2021: 1.4%
Share of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
9.5% ▲ +28.8%
Lower than 86% of urban centre areas.
- 2011: 7.4%
- 2016: 8.4%
- 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 48%, 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/ucl/UCL101001/sydney/topic/demographics-identity