Greater Sydney: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Greater Sydney: The median total income of residents of Greater Sydney who had income was $62,180 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 8th highest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: Greater Sydney, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
- Health in Greater Sydney: 58,122 births were registered to mothers living in Greater Sydney in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.44 births per woman, below the national figure (1.54). Boundary: Greater Sydney, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
- Education in Greater Sydney: 66.9% of residents of Greater Sydney aged 15 and over had completed Year 12 or equivalent at the 2021 Census, joint 9th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (58.8%). Boundary: Greater Sydney, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
- Poverty and living standards in Greater Sydney: The median weekly rent paid by households in Greater Sydney was $470 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), 2nd highest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: Greater Sydney, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
What is the population of Greater Sydney?
Greater Sydney had an estimated 5,638,830 residents on 30 June 2025 (ABS preliminary estimate), the highest of 31 areas covered on this site. Boundary: Greater Sydney, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyIs the population of Greater Sydney growing?
The population of Greater Sydney grew by 75,230 people (1.4%) in the year to 30 June 2025, from 5,563,600 to 5,638,830; Australia as a whole grew 1.5%.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow fast has the population of Greater Sydney grown in the last five years?
Between 30 June 2020 and 30 June 2025 the estimated population of Greater Sydney rose 6.5%, from 5,295,529 to 5,638,830, compared with 7.7% for Australia.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people moved to Greater Sydney in 2024-25?
In the year to 30 June 2025 Greater Sydney had net overseas migration of +78,403 people and net internal (within Australia) migration of -33,282 people.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the population density of Greater Sydney?
Greater Sydney covers 12,369 square kilometres, so its 2025 population works out at about 456 people per square kilometre.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median age in Greater Sydney?
The median age of residents of Greater Sydney was 36.8 years in 2024, below the national figure (38.3 years).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households are there in Greater Sydney?
The 2021 Census counted 1,828,859 households in Greater Sydney, with an average of 2.7 people per household.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Greater Sydney were born overseas?
At the 2021 Census 38.6% of residents of Greater Sydney were born overseas, above the national figure (27.6%), and 37.4% spoke a language other than English at home, above the national figure (22.3%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWho runs Greater Sydney?
In Australia, cities and towns are run by local governments: Councillors elected (methods vary by state; voting compulsory in some states); mayors directly elected in some places and chosen by councillors in others. Local roads, planning approvals, waste, libraries, parks, rates (property tax).
How local power works in Australia
Cities of a similar size in Australia
- Greater Melbourne 5,435,590
- Greater Brisbane 2,833,524
- Greater Perth 2,452,765
- Greater Adelaide 1,491,015
- Brisbane 1,375,301
- Gold Coast-Tweed Heads 761,634
- Gold Coast 691,230
- Newcastle-Maitland 541,634
- Canberra-Queanbeyan 521,049
- Canberra 484,630
- Sunshine Coast 381,957
- Central Coast 357,816
Up a level: all cities in Australia · Australia · government and power
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Regional population 2024-25: estimated resident population by Greater Capital City Statistical Area, 2001 to 2025 (data cube 32180DS0003, Table 4), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f35d0ca0caaf…)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Greater Capital City Statistical Areas and Australia (ASGS Edition 3), all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bf78744b9729…)
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