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Sydney, Australia's largest city, has evolved from a penal settlement of fewer than 1,000 people in 1788 into a vibrant metropolis of over 5.2 million residents as recorded in the 2021 census. With the population expected to reach 6.5 million by 2034, Sydney’s growth has been powered largely by international migration and a strong birth rate.
While the city has experienced a net internal migration loss of over 716,000 people to other parts of Australia since 1971, this trend has been consistently offset by overseas arrivals. Today, 40.5% of Sydney’s population is foreign-born, making it one of the most culturally diverse cities globally.
The top countries of birth outside of Australia include Mainland China (238,316), India (187,810), England (153,052), Vietnam (93,778), and the Philippines (91,339). The most commonly reported ancestries are English (21.8%), Australian (20.4%), Chinese (11.6%), Irish (7.2%), and Indian (4.9%).
Reflecting this multicultural makeup, 42% of households in Sydney speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Mandarin (5%), Arabic (4.2%), Cantonese (2.8%), Vietnamese (2.2%), and Hindi (1.5%).
The median age of residents stands at 37, with 14.8% aged 65 and over. Nearly half (48.6%) of Sydney’s population is married, and 49% of families consist of couples with children.
In addition, 1.7% of Sydney’s residents identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, contributing to the city’s deep-rooted Indigenous heritage alongside its rapidly growing international population.
Sydney’s diverse population continues to shape its culture, economy, and identity, reinforcing its role as a global city that bridges continents, cultures, and communities.