City of Sydney

Market characteristics

The City of Sydney has a higher proportion of households in the medium to high income category compared to New South Wales.

The people who live in an area are one of the most important resources that an economy draws upon, both as a market that consumes goods and services and as a source of labour.

This table provides an overview of the City of Sydney's population demographics, and how their characteristics compare to those of the broader region.

More detailed information about the City of Sydney's resident population, including neighbourhood profiles, can be found in the Community Profile.

Data source

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2011 and 2016 – by usual residence

Current benchmark:
reset
Market characteristics
City of Sydney20162011Change
NameNumber%. New South WalesNumber%. New South Wales2016 - 2011
Population summary--------------
Total residents208,374100.0100.0169,501100.0100.0+38,873
Males107,85251.849.389,56152.849.3+18,291
Females100,53048.250.779,94047.250.7+20,590
Age structure--------------
0 - 14 years14,0406.718.512,0467.119.3+1,994
15 - 24 years36,95917.712.526,96815.912.9+9,991
25 - 54 years124,18659.640.8103,09460.841.4+21,092
55 - 64 Years16,0787.711.914,0408.311.7+2,038
65 years and over17,1108.216.313,3537.914.7+3,757
Education institute attending--------------
Primary school4,5132.28.13,5532.17.9+960
Secondary school3,6151.76.22,8051.76.5+810
TAFE5,8472.81.95,0763.02.4+771
University29,20314.05.019,43511.54.4+9,768
Diversity--------------
Total overseas born99,42247.727.671,90342.425.7+27,519
Speaks language other than English at home75,24636.125.150,59729.922.4+24,649
Speaks another language, and English not well or not at all12,9346.24.58,3134.93.9+4,621
Qualifications--------------
Bachelor or higher degree85,60344.023.463,31640.219.9+22,287
Advanced Diploma or Diploma16,4018.48.913,9158.88.3+2,486
Certificate level14,1137.318.112,4667.917.7+1,647
No qualification48,77525.139.141,38426.342.8+7,391
Household income--------------
Nill to $64916,08618.217.8--------
$650 to $1,49916,09818.227.5--------
$1,500 to $2,44919,30121.821.2--------
$2,500 or more 27,97731.623.1--------
Housing tenure--------------
Owned12,28612.530.710,59212.431.9+1,694
Purchasing17,19017.530.417,27120.331.9-81
Renting54,68255.830.345,22453.129.1+9,458
Dwelling structure--------------
Separate house2,0401.964.93,5473.867.9-1,507
Medium house23,84821.817.923,07024.517.4+778
High density81,64874.615.366,24970.213.3+15,399

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2016. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics,

City of Sydney

economic profile