Demographics of Sydney

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Map of the median age of Sydney residents by Postal Area in the 2011 census Australian Census 2011 demographic map - Inner Sydney by POA - BCP field 0109 Median age of persons.svg
Map of the median age of Sydney residents by Postal Area in the 2011 census

Sydney is Australia's most populous city, and is also the most populous city in Oceania. In the 2016 census, 5,005,400 persons declared themselves as residents of the Sydney Statistical Division –about one-fifth (19.41%) of Australia's total population. With a population density of 2037 people per square kilometer the urban core has population density five times that of the greater region. [1] [2]

Sydney City in New South Wales, Australia

Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Port Jackson and extends about 70 km (43.5 mi) on its periphery towards the Blue Mountains to the west, Hawkesbury to the north, the Royal National Park to the south and Macarthur to the south-west. Sydney is made up of 658 suburbs, 40 local government areas and 15 contiguous regions. Residents of the city are known as "Sydneysiders". As of June 2017, Sydney's estimated metropolitan population was 5,230,330 and is home to approximately 65% of the state's population.

Australia Country in Oceania

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. The neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor to the north; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east. The population of 25 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Australia's capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. The country's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Oceania Geographic region comprising Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia

Oceania is a geographic region which includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Spanning the eastern and western hemispheres, Oceania covers an area of 8,525,989 square kilometres (3,291,903 sq mi) and has a population of 40 million. Situated in the southeast of the Asia-Pacific region, Oceania, when compared to continental regions, is the smallest in land area and the second smallest in population after Antarctica.

Contents

Sydney is the most densely populated city in Australia. It's also the busiest city in Australia. The median age of Sydney residents was 35 years, and households comprised an average of 2.7 members. [3] [4]

History

Sydney
population by year
17962,953 [5]
1911629,503 [6]
19541,863,217
19612,183,231
19712,807,828
19813,204,696
19913,672,855
19963,881,136
20014,128,272
20064,281,988
20114,627,345
20165,005,400

European settlement in Sydney began in 1788, and in 1800 Sydney had around 3,000 non-indigenous inhabitants. It took time for the city's population to grow–in 1851 its population was only 39,000, compared with 77,000 in Melbourne. The subsequent gold rushes in Victoria caused the population of Melbourne to increase rapidly, while the lesser gold rushes in New South Wales had a less profound effect on the population of Sydney.

Melbourne City in Victoria, Australia

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Its name refers to an urban agglomeration of 9,992.5 km2 (3,858.1 sq mi), comprising a metropolitan area with 31 municipalities, and is also the common name for its city centre. The city occupies much of the coastline of Port Phillip bay and spreads into the hinterlands towards the Dandenong and Macedon ranges, Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley. It has a population of approximately 5 million, and its inhabitants are referred to as "Melburnians".

Victorian gold rush

The Victorian gold rush was a period in the history of Victoria, Australia approximately between 1851 and the late 1860s. It led to a period of extreme prosperity for the Australian colony, and an influx of population growth and financial capital for Melbourne, which was dubbed "Marvellous Melbourne" as a result of the procurement of wealth.

Sydney overtook Melbourne as Australia's most populous city in the early twentieth century, and reached the million inhabitants milestone around 1925. The opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge helped pave the way for further urban development north of Sydney Harbour. Post-war immigration and a baby boom helped the population reach two million by 1962. Sydney remained Australia's most populous city throughout the 20th century, and is projected to retain this position for much of the 21st century. [7]

Sydney Harbour Bridge bridge across Sydney Harbour in Australia

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a heritage-listed steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of Sydney, and Australia itself. The bridge is nicknamed "The Coathanger" because of its arch-based design.

Baby boom period marked by a significant increase of birth rate

A baby boom is a period marked by a significant increase of birth rate. This demographic phenomenon is usually ascribed within certain geographical bounds. People born during these periods are often called baby boomers; however, some experts distinguish between those born during such demographic baby booms and those who identify with the overlapping cultural generations. The causes of baby booms involves various fertility factors. The most well-known baby boom occurred in middle of twentieth century, beginning in late 1930s or early 1940s and ending in 1960s. It was a change of trend that was largely unexpected, because in most countries it occurred in the midst of a period of improving economies and rising living standards.

At the June 2016 Australian census, Sydney's population reached 5 million people. [1]

Density

Sydney is particularly noted for its low population density, due to its history. Surrounded by land that was considered unowned by the city's founders, early Sydney enjoyed relatively low land values. Coupled with successive governments' willingness to release new land on the city's outskirts for further development, this history has given Sydney a low-density self-image. [8] [9]

Population density A measurement of population numbers per unit area or volume

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume; it is a quantity of type number density. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and most of the time to humans. It is a key geographical term. In simple terms population density refers to the number of people living in an area per kilometer square.

Urban consolidation describes the policy of constraining further development and population growth to within the boundaries of preexisting urban areas rather than expanding outward into suburban areas. Urban consolidation seeks to increase the population density of a given urban area by expanding upward, redeveloping preexisting buildings and lots, and constructing new facilities in available spaces. It is theorized that discouraging urban sprawl and encouraging further development of housing units in preexisting urban areas will lead to a net gain in social and economic prosperity.

Multiculturalism

Significant overseas-born populations [10] [11]
Country of birthPopulation (2016)
China224,685
United Kingdom151,684
India130,573
New Zealand86,526
Vietnam81,045
Philippines75,480
Lebanon55,979
South Korea49,508
Hong Kong40,577
Italy40,492
Iraq39,237
South Africa35,313
Fiji31,510
Nepal30,424
Indonesia29,989
Malaysia21,211

38.2% of people in Sydney speak a language other than English at home with Mandarin (4.7%), Arabic (4.0%), Cantonese (2.9%), Vietnamese (2.1%) and Greek (1.6%) the most widely spoken. [12]

There were 54,746 people of indigenous heritage living in Sydney in 2011. [13] Most immigrants to Sydney between 1840 and 1930 were British, Irish or Chinese. There were significant clusters of people based on nationality or religion throughout the history of Sydney development. In the early 20th century Irish people were centred in Surry Hills, the Scottish in Paddington.

At the 2016 census, Sydney's most common ancestries as a proportion of persons who nominated their ancestry were English (27%), Australian (25%), Chinese (10.8%), Irish (9.2%), Scottish (6.8%), Italian (4.5%) and Indian (4.3%). [14] [15]

Foreign countries of birth with the greatest representation are Mainland China, England, India, New Zealand, Vietnam and the Philippines. [16]

At the 2016 census, there were 2,071,872 people living in Sydney that were born overseas, accounting for 42.9% of the population Sydney, [17] above New York City (36 percent), Paris (25 percent), Berlin (13 percent) and Tokyo (2 percent). Only 33.1% of the population had both parents born in Australia. [18]

Sydney has been a hub of a number of migrant communities, such as the Lebanese, Fijian, Korean and Nepalese. [19] Well over half of Australia's 25,000-strong Nepalese community, [20] for example, is concentrated in Sydney. [21] Seven out of every ten Lebanese migrants in Australia live in Sydney. [19] The Ghanaian community has been noted as being quite visible in Sydney, with the number of Ghanaian churches being unusually large considering the relatively small number of Ghanaians in Australia. [22] Furthermore, the suburb of Fairfield in the Greater Western Sydney area, is an ethnic enclave of Assyrian Christians, [23] where they are the largest ethnic group in the suburb and also in the surrounding areas of Fairfield Heights, Prairiewood and Greenfield Park. [24]

Each dot indicates 100 persons born in Britain (dark blue), Greece (light blue), China (red), India (brown), Vietnam (yellow), Philippines (pink), Italy (light green) and Lebanon (dark green). Based on 2006 Census Sydney CoB dots.png
Each dot indicates 100 persons born in Britain (dark blue), Greece (light blue), China (red), India (brown), Vietnam (yellow), Philippines (pink), Italy (light green) and Lebanon (dark green). Based on 2006 Census

The most common languages spoken at home are English (the sole language of 60.8% of the population), Arabic (spoken by 4.4%), Cantonese (3.4%), Mandarin (2.6%), Greek (2.2%) and Vietnamese (2.0%). [25]

Most common ancestries of
Sydney urban area (2016) [26] 		Population%
English 1,220,14525.3
Australian 1,133,98523.5
Chinese 487,97610.1
Irish 416,6428.6
Scottish 307,4606.4
Italian 204,1604.2
Indian 194,0184.0
Lebanese 160,3723.3
German 122,9012.5
Greek 117,7142.4
Total population4,823,994

Religion

Monks crossing a street in The Rocks Monks at The Rocks, Sydney.jpg
Monks crossing a street in The Rocks

At the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religion were Catholic (29.2%), Anglican (16.5%), Eastern Orthodox (4.8%) and Islam (4.4%). 14.1% declared no religious affiliation. [25] 10.4% left the question blank, 3.7% were Buddhists, 1.7% were Hindu, 0.9% were Jewish.

The 2011 Census most common responses were Catholic, (28.3%), Anglican (14.7%), Islam (5.3%) and Eastern Orthodox (4.6%). 17.5% declared no religion. [27]

In 2016, the most common responses for religion in Greater Sydney were Catholic 25.1%, No Religion, so described 24.6%, Anglican 12.0%, Not stated 8.8% and Islam 5.3%. [28]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Sydney population hits 5 million". Australian Bureau of Statistics . 30 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2014–15: Media Release Sydney on target to Take Five". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "National Regional Profile: Sydney (Statistical Division)". ABS.gov.au. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "2032.0 - Census of Population and Housing: Australia in Profile -- A Regional Analysis, 2001", Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2004-01-16
  5. ↑ "3105.0.65.001 - Australian Historical Population Statistics, 2006". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 23 May 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2011.Table 1. Population by sex, states and territories, 31 December 1788 onwards
  6. ↑ "Australian Historical Population Statistics, 2008". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  7. ↑ "3222.0 – Population Projections, Australia, 2006 to 2101". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4 September 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  8. ↑ Forster 1995.
  9. ↑ 1217.0.55.001 - Glossary of Statistical Geography Terminology, 2003 , Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2003
  10. ↑ https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/1GSYD?opendocument
  11. ↑ https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/communityprofile/1GSYD?opendocument
  12. ↑ https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/1GSYD?opendocument
  13. ↑ "2016 Census QuickStats: Greater Sydney". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  14. ↑ https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/communityprofile/1GSYD?opendocument
  15. ↑ http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/CensusOutput/copsub2016.NSF/All%20docs%20by%20catNo/2016~Community%20Profile~1GSYD/$File/GCP_1GSYD.zip?OpenElement
  16. ↑ https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/1GSYD?opendocument
  17. ↑ https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/1GSYD?opendocument
  18. ↑ https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/1GSYD?opendocument
  19. 1 2 "2016 Census Community Profiles - Greater Sydney". Australian Bureau of Statistics . Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  20. ↑ "People in Australia who were born in Nepal". Australian Bureau of Statistics.
  21. ↑ "People in Greater Sydney who were born in Nepal". Australian Bureau of Statistics.
  22. ↑ "Patriotic to a fault". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  23. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Fairfield (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 June 2017. Blue pencil.svg
  24. ↑ B. Furze, P. Savy, R. Brym, J. Lie, Sociology in Today's World, 2008, p. 349
  25. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Sydney (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 November 2011. Map
  26. ↑ "2016 Census Community Profiles". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  27. ↑ http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/UCL101001?opendocument&navpos=220
  28. ↑ "2016 Census QuickStats Greater Sydney". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Government. 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.,
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