Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and the largest city in Australia. Sydney is Australia’s most populated and busiest city. The area that Sydney covers is 12,368 sq kilometers. Sydney’s population for 2022 is 5.48 million. The population of 2020, according to the Australia Bureau of Statistics is 5,367 206. Sydney is composed of 658 suburbs spread over 33 local government areas. The median age for Sydney residents was 35, with an average household size of 2.7 people.
Sydney Settlement History
European settlement began in 1788, when soldiers and convicts from the First Fleet set anchor at Sydney Cove. Sydney was founded as a penal colony. Free settlers arrived in 1793. Whaling, sealing, and shipping wool were some of the early industries. The Blue Mountains crossing in 1813 saw the beginning of growth. Sydney was made a city in 1842, just after the ban on convict transport to New South Wales. The gold rush and many Chinese and American immigrants helped to increase the city’s population rapidly in the 1840s, 1850s, and 1860s. The early 1900s saw rapid population growth and industrialization. Since then, the city’s population has increased dramatically. It was approximately 104,000 people in 1991. It is now about 182,000. Between 1996 and 2011, the population grew substantially, partly due to the Council’s policies that encouraged residential development.
The population of Sydney
In June 2012, the results of the census showed that Sydney’s official population was 4,391,674. It has increased by 6.6% in the five years since 2006’s last census. The population is estimated to be 4.92 million in 2016, and it is projected that this figure will rise to 5 million by 2016.
Table of the population growth rate and population level for Sydney, Australia’s metro area between 2019-2022
- In 2019, Sydney’s metro area had a population of 4,859,000. This is a 1.4% increase over 2018.
- In 2020, Sydney’s metro population was 4,926,000. This is a 1.38% increase over 2019.
- In 2021, Sydney’s metro area had 4,992,000 people. This is a 1.34% increase over 2020.
- In 2022, the population of Sydney’s metro area will be 5,057,000. This is a 1.3% increase over 2021.
Our research shows that Sydney’s population will rise to 6.40 million in June 2022, according to our estimates. Because Australia Bureau Statistics ABS follows Australia’s financial year, we use June 31 each year. This calculation is based upon the average growth rate for the past 10 years, which was 4.47%.
Australia’s 2016 population is just below 22 million. To put this in perspective, one fifth of Australians live in Sydney.
Sydney’s growth
Sydney is rapidly growing – so fast that it could have as many 7 million residents in 2060. This would be less than London’s current population. It is expected to grow at an even faster pace and will be Australia’s biggest city in the next 25 years. Learn more about Melbourne’s population in our article.
The growth rate of Sydney’s population over the past eight years is consistent and strong. It ranges from 1.89% up to 10.88%. This adds approximately 90,000 to 467,000 people to the total population each year. Many workers moved to Sydney to find work opportunities, which led to population growth.
The 2041 population growth is expected
According to modelling by the NSW government, it is necessary to build 30,000-40,000 new homes each year to house the population. Greater Sydney will need more than 1,000,000 homes by 2041.
By 2041, Liverpool will have nearly 30,000 additional residents. It is located approximately 40km from the CBD. This will bring the city’s population density to the same level that inner-city Glebe.
The Blacktown LGA has 16,500-18,500 homes and Hunters Hill LGA is just 150-200.