Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Sydney, Australia metro area from 1950 to 2025.

Humans have been living on the continent of Australia (name derived from "Terra Australis"; Latin for "the southern land") for approximately 65,000 years, however population growth was relatively slow until the nineteenth century. Europeans had made some contact with Australia as early as 1606, however there was no significant attempt at settlement until the late eighteenth century. By 1800, the population of Australia was approximately 350,000 people, and the majority of these were Indigenous Australians. As colonization progressed the number of ethnic Europeans increased while the Australian Aboriginal population was decimated through conflict, smallpox and other diseases, with some communities being exterminated completely, such as Aboriginal Tasmanians. Mass migration from Britain and China After the loss of its American colonies in the 1780s, the British Empire looked to other parts of the globe to expand its sphere of influence. In Australia, the first colonies were established in Sydney, Tasmania and Western Australia. Many of these were penal colonies which became home to approximately 164,000 British and Irish convicts who were transported to Australia between 1788 and 1868. As the decades progressed, expansion into the interior intensified, and the entire country was claimed by Britain in 1826. Inland colonization led to further conflict between European settlers and indigenous Australians, which cost the lives of thousands of natives. Inward expansion also saw the discovery of many natural resources, and most notably led to the gold rushes of the 1850s, which attracted substantial numbers of Chinese migrants to Australia. This mass migration from non-European countries eventually led to some restrictive policies being introduced, culminating with the White Australia Policy of 1901, which cemented ethnic-European dominance in Australian politics and society. These policies were not retracted until the second half of the 1900s. Independent Australia Australia changed its status to a British dominion in 1901, and eventually became independent in 1931. Despite this, Australia has remained a part of the British Commonwealth, and Australian forces (ANZAC) fought with the British and their Allies in both World Wars, and were instrumental in campaigns such as Gallipoli in WWI, and the South West Pacific Theater in WWII. The aftermath of both wars had a significant impact on the Australian population, with approximately 90 thousand deaths in both world wars combined, as well as 15 thousand deaths as a result of the Spanish flu pandemic following WWI, although Australia experienced a significant baby boom following the Second World War. In the past fifty years, Australia has promoted immigration from all over the world, and now has one of the strongest economies and highest living standards in the world, with a population that has grown to over 25 million people in 2020.

Transport for NSW provides projections of population and dwellings at the small area (Travel Zone or TZ) level for NSW. The latest version is Travel Zone Projections 2024 (TZP24), released in January 2025.\r \r TZP24 replaces the previously published TZP22.\r \r The projections are developed to support a strategic view of NSW and are aligned with the NSW Government Common Planning Assumptions .\r \r The TZP24 Population & Dwellings Projections dataset covers the following variables:\r \r * Estimated Resident Population\r \r * Structural Private Dwellings (Regional NSW only)\r \r * Population in Occupied Private Dwellings, by 5-year Age categories & by Sex\r \r * Population in Non-Private Dwellings\r \r The projections in this release, TZP24, are presented annually from 2021 to 2031 and 5-yearly from 2031 to 2066, and are in TZ21 geography.\r \r Please note, TZP24 is based on best available data as at early 2024, and the projections incorporate results of the National Census conducted by the ABS in August 2021.\r \r Key Data Inputs used in TZP24:\r \r * 2024 NSW Population Projections – NSW Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure\r \r * 2021 Census data - Australian Bureau of Statistics (including dwellings by occupancy, total dwellings by Mesh Block, household sizes, private dwellings by occupancy, population age and gender, persons by place of usual residence)\r \r For a summary of the TZP24 projection method please refer to the TZP24 Factsheet .\r \r For more detail on the projection process please refer to the TZP24 Technical Guide . \r \r Additional land use information for workforce and employment as well as Travel Zone 2021 boundaries for NSW (TZ21) and concordance files are also available for download on the Open Data Hub.\r \r Visualisations of the population projections are available on the Transport for NSW Website under Data and research/Reference Information .\r \r Cautions\r \r The TZP24 dataset represents one view of the future aligned with the NSW Government Common Planning Assumptions and population and employment projections.\r \r The projections are not based on specific assumptions about future new transport infrastructure but do take into account known land-use developments underway or planned, and strategic plans.\r \r *\tTZP24 is a strategic state-wide dataset and caution should be exercised when considering results at detailed breakdowns.\r \r *\tThe TZP24 outputs represent a point in time set of projections (as at early 2024).\r \r *\tThe projections are not government targets.\r \r *\tTravel Zone (TZ) level outputs are projections only and should be used as a guide. As with all small area data, aggregating of travel zone projections to higher geographies leads to more robust results.\r \r *\tAs a general rule, TZ-level projections are illustrative of a possible future only.\r \r *\tMore specific advice about data reliability for the specific variables projected is provided in the “Read Me” page of the Excel format summary spreadsheets on the TfNSW Open Data Hub.\r \r *\tCaution is advised when comparing TZP24 with the previous set of projections (TZP22) due to addition of new data sources for the most recent years, and adjustments to methodology.\r \r Further cautions and notes can be found in the TZP24 Technical Guide\r \r Important note: \r \r The Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure (DPHI) published the 2024 NSW Population Projections in November 2024. As per DPHI’s published projections, the following variables are excluded from the published TZP24 Population and Dwellings Projections:\r \r *\tStructural Private Dwellings for Travel Zones in 43 councils across Greater Sydney, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, Central Coast, Lower Hunter and Greater Newcastle\r \r *\tOccupied Private Dwellings for Travel Zones in NSW.\r \r Furthermore, in TZP24, the Structural Private Dwellings variable aligns with the 2024 Implied Dwelling projections while the Occupied Private Dwellings variable aligns with the 2024 Households projections at SA2 level prepared by DPHI.\r \r The above variables are available upon request by contacting model.selection@transport.nsw.gov.au - Attention Place Forecasting.

In June 2022, it was estimated that around 7.3 percent of Australians were aged between 25 and 29, and the same applied to people aged between 30 and 34. All in all, about 55 percent of Australia’s population was aged 35 years or older as of June 2022. At the same time, the age distribution of the country also shows that the share of children under 14 years old was still higher than that of people over 65 years old. A breakdown of Australia’s population growth Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, yet with a population of around 26 million inhabitants, it is only sparsely populated. Since the 1970s, the population growth of Australia has remained fairly constant. While there was a slight rise in the Australian death rate in 2022, the birth rate of the country decreased after a slight rise in the previous year. The fact that the birth rate is almost double the size of its death rate gives the country one of the highest natural population growth rates of any high-income country.
National distribution of the population Australia’s population is expected to surpass 28 million people by 2028. The majority of its inhabitants live in the major cities. The most populated states are New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. Together, they account for over 75 percent of the population in Australia.

Australia Population: Resident: Estimated: Annual: New South Wales: Greater Sydney data was reported at 5,132,355.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,024,923.000 Person for 2016. Australia Population: Resident: Estimated: Annual: New South Wales: Greater Sydney data is updated yearly, averaging 4,643,072.500 Person from Jun 2006 (Median) to 2017, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,132,355.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 4,256,161.000 Person in 2006. Australia Population: Resident: Estimated: Annual: New South Wales: Greater Sydney data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G002: Estimated Resident Population.

Projection data for New South Wales are available to the year 2041; and for Regional NSW, Sydney, Illawarra, Lower Hunter & Central Coast and all Local Government Areas (LGA) to the year 2031.

Individual file tabs contain summary population projection data for New South Wales, projection regions and all LGAs. Individual file tabs are also available for population projections by five-year age group and sex for New South Wales and the projection regions. Five year age group data are available for LGAs with populations greater than 3,000 in 2011. For smaller LGAs, age group data are provided for four age groups: 0-14, 15-44, 45-64, 65+.

For more information, including reports, frequently asked questions and an information brochure, please see http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Research-and-Demography/Demography/Population-Projections

Comprehensive demographic and housing statistics for ZIP code 33587 in Sydney, Florida.

This map shows population and land use in Sydney and the County of Cumberland. It was prepared by the Department of Main Roads.

The scale is 1 mile = 1 inch. The map is in two parts.


(SR Map Nos.52693-94). 2 sheets.

Note:
This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.

Age-sex charts emphasize the gap between the numbers of males and females at a specific age group. It also illustrates the age and gender trends across all age and gender groupings. A top heavy chart describes a very young population while a bottom heavy chart illustrates an aging population.

Transport Performance and Analytics (TPA) provides projections of workforce at the small area (Travel Zone or TZ) level for the Sydney Greater Metropolitan Area (GMA).

The GMA includes the Sydney Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven SA4, Illawarra SA4, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie SA4, and Lower Hunter, Port Stephens, and Maitland SA3s, as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). TPA workforce projections are five-yearly, from 2011 to 2056 and relate to usual residents of the GMA aged 15 years and over who are employed. They are estimates of employed people based on where they reside. TPA also produces employment projections based on the workplace or job location. They refer to persons aged 15 years and over, working in the GMA regardless of their place of usual residence. The majority of the persons employed in the GMA also reside in the GMA.

Factors considered in the estimation of workforce projections include: population by age and gender; participation rates; unemployment rates; historical labour force data; past trends of employment in each industry and the forecasts of industry growth or decline in each region.

This statistic shows the share of ethnic groups in Australia in the total population. 33 percent of the total population of Australia are english.

Australia’s population

Australia’s ethnic diversity can be attributed to their history and location. The country’s colonization from Europeans is a significant reason for the majority of its population being Caucasian. Additionally, being that Australia is one of the most developed countries closest to Eastern Asia; its Asian population comes as no surprise.

Australia is one of the world’s most developed countries, often earning recognition as one of the world’s economical leaders. With a more recent economic boom, Australia has become an attractive country for students and workers alike, who seek an opportunity to improve their lifestyle. Over the past decade, Australia’s population has slowly increased and is expected to continue to do so over the next several years. A beautiful landscape, many work opportunities and a high quality of life helped play a role in the country’s development. In 2011, Australia was considered to have one of the highest life expectancies in the world, with the average Australian living to approximately 82 years of age.

From an employment standpoint, Australia has maintained a rather low employment rate compared to many other developed countries. After experiencing a significant jump in unemployment in 2009, primarily due to the world economic crisis, Australia has been able to remain stable and slightly increase employment year-over-year.

The value of commercial building activity in Australia was forecasted to amount to around 43.2 billion Australian dollars in the 2025 fiscal year. This was around the same as the commercial building activity value as of fiscal year 2019, which reached over 43.3 billion Australian dollars.

Commercial building activity boom

The short-term increase in commercial building activity was attributable to strong employment and population growth. Buildings such as shops, hospitals, cafes, restaurants, schools, and offices have been required to fill the needs of the increasing Australian population. In addition, warehouses, factories, and wholesale distribution facilities have been required to further support this growth. In the tourism sector, there has been a need for more accommodation options in the major tourist destinations in the country.

Office space demand

In the office segment, the nation’s larger cities such as Melbourne and Sydney have remained competitive with some of the lowest vacancy rates in the world. In Sydney, the recent COVID-19 outbreak seemed to have led to a decline in office leasing enquiries, and therefore an increase in the vacancy rate in 2020. The same trend was seen in the prime office vacancy rate in Melbourne. It is yet to be seen if the office space demand will return to pre-pandemic levels in the near future.

This dataset contains projected population figures from Transport for NSW’s Travel Zone Projection 2016 (TZP2016) model (formally known as LU16*). The data includes:\r \r \r •\tEstimated Resident Population (ERP) (including 5-year age categories by sex);\r \r •\tPopulation in occupied private dwellings (POPD)\r \r •\tPopulation in non-private dwellings (PNPD); and\r \r •\tOccupied private dwellings (OPD)\r \r \r The TZP2016 projections reflect the Sydney Greater Metropolitan Area (GMA) and are provided on a 5-yearly basis for the period 2011-2056.\r

The rent price index in Australia in the first quarter of 2025 was 122.1, marking an increase from the same quarter of the previous year. Rent prices had decreased in 2020; in Melbourne and Sydney, this was mainly attributed to the absence of international students during the coronavirus outbreak. The current state of the rental market in Australia The rental market in Australia has been marked by varying conditions across different regions. Among the capital cities, Sydney has long been recognized for having some of the highest average rents. As of March 2025, the average weekly rent for a house in Sydney was 775 Australian dollars, which was the highest average rent across all major cities in Australia that year. Furthermore, due to factors like population growth and housing demand, regional areas have also seen noticeable increases in rental prices. For instance, households in the non-metropolitan area of New South Wales’ expenditure on rent was around 30 percent of their household income in the year ending June 2024. Housing affordability in Australia Housing affordability remains a significant challenge in Australia, contributing to a trend where many individuals and families rent for prolonged periods. The underlying cause of this issue is the ongoing disparity between household wages and housing costs, especially in large cities. While renting offers several advantages, it is worth noting that the associated costs may not always align with the expectation of affordability. Approximately one-third of participants in a recent survey stated that they pay between 16 and 30 percent of their monthly income on rent. Recent government initiatives, such as the 2024 Help to Buy scheme, aim to make it easier for people across Australia to get onto the property ladder. Still, the multifaceted nature of Australia’s housing affordability problem requires continued efforts to strike a balance between market dynamics and the need for accessible housing options for Australians.

Between 2016 and 2021, Sydney was home to the largest number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) in Australia, and is expected to maintain this status until at least 2026. An UHNWI is defined as an individual with net investable assets worth at least 30 million U.S. dollars. The number of UHNWIs living in Australia is above the global average.

At the 2021 Australian census, 278,043 people in New South Wales were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. New South Wales is Australia’s most populated state, also housing Australia’s largest city, Sydney. By comparison, Australia’s second largest state, Victoria, was home to around 66 thousand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

There are around 800,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, which represents just over three percent of the Australian population. Indigenous people are often referred to as Australia's first people or the traditional custodians of the land in recognition of their ancestors inhabiting Australia more than 60,000 years ago. Australia's Indigenous peoples are represented by two distinct groups. Aboriginal people come from the Australian mainland. Torres Strait Islander people inhabit the group of Islands between the northern tip of Queensland and Papua New Guinea and represent less than 40,000 people.

Closing the gap

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience significantly poorer health and wellbeing outcomes when compared to their non-Indigenous Australian counterparts. The average life expectancy of Indigenous Australians is around eight years shorter than that of the non-Indigenous population. In education, Indigenous Australians are also underrepresented, but attendance rates are improving and in 2019, full-time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students numbered well over 200,000 people.

The Australian commercial real estate market, valued at $34.07 billion in 2025, is projected to experience robust growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.46% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is driven by several key factors. Strong population growth and urbanization in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are fueling demand for office, retail, and industrial spaces. The burgeoning e-commerce sector is significantly boosting demand for logistics and warehousing facilities, particularly in strategically located areas surrounding major urban centers. Furthermore, government initiatives promoting infrastructure development and attracting foreign investment are contributing positively to the market's overall health. The hospitality sector, while still recovering from the pandemic, shows signs of a steady uptick, driven by increased tourism and domestic travel. While rising interest rates and potential economic slowdowns pose some restraints, the underlying strength of the Australian economy and the long-term positive demographic trends are expected to outweigh these challenges. The market is segmented by property type (office, retail, industrial & logistics, hospitality, and other) and by city (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, and Perth), with Sydney and Melbourne holding the largest market shares. Key players include Pact Construction, Mirvac, Pellicano Builders, Stockland, Frasers Property, and Lendlease, amongst others, actively shaping the market's landscape through development and investment. The forecast period (2025-2033) anticipates continued expansion across all segments. However, the growth trajectory might see some moderation in the later years depending on the global economic climate and national policy changes. The industrial and logistics sector is poised for particularly strong growth due to the sustained rise in e-commerce activity and supply chain optimization efforts. The office sector's growth might be influenced by the evolving work-from-home dynamics and the adoption of hybrid working models, potentially favoring flexible and high-quality office spaces. Retail real estate will likely witness dynamic shifts as consumer preferences evolve, with demand for experiential retail and specialized offerings gaining traction. Understanding these nuanced sector-specific trends is critical for investors and developers to successfully navigate the Australian commercial real estate market. Australia Commercial Real Estate Market: A Comprehensive Forecast 2019-2033 This insightful report provides a detailed analysis of the Australian commercial real estate market, covering the period 2019-2033. With a focus on key segments like office, retail, industrial and logistics, and hospitality, across major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, and Perth, this report is crucial for investors, developers, and industry professionals seeking to navigate this dynamic market. The report utilizes data from the historical period (2019-2024), with the base year set at 2025, and forecasts extending to 2033. Key players like Stockland, Mirvac, Frasers Property, Lendlease Corporation, and Scentre Group Limited are analyzed, providing a comprehensive overview of market trends and future projections. The report offers valuable insights into market concentration, emerging trends, and growth catalysts, ultimately assisting informed decision-making within the Australian commercial real estate landscape. Key drivers for this market are: Rapid Urbanization, Government Initiatives Actively promoting the Construction Activities. Potential restraints include: Shortage of Skilled Labor, Supply chain issues and rising material costs. Notable trends are: Retail real estate is expected to drive the market.

The Australian commercial real estate market, valued at $34.07 billion in 2025, is projected to experience robust growth, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.46% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is fueled by several key drivers. Strong population growth in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane is increasing demand for office, retail, and industrial spaces. Furthermore, the burgeoning e-commerce sector is driving significant growth in the logistics and warehousing segments. Government infrastructure investments and a generally positive economic outlook also contribute to this positive market trajectory. While rising interest rates and potential economic slowdown pose some constraints, the long-term fundamentals of the Australian economy and the ongoing need for modern commercial spaces are expected to mitigate these risks. The market is segmented by property type (office, retail, industrial & logistics, hospitality, and others) and by city (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth), reflecting diverse investment opportunities and regional variations in growth rates. Sydney and Melbourne are expected to remain dominant, given their established business ecosystems and high population densities. However, other cities such as Brisbane are witnessing significant growth driven by infrastructure development and population influx. The key players in this dynamic market, including Lendlease Corporation, Scentre Group Limited, and Mirvac, are well-positioned to capitalize on these growth opportunities. The segmentation of the market reveals significant potential within specific sectors. The industrial and logistics sector, driven by the e-commerce boom and supply chain optimization efforts, is anticipated to experience particularly strong growth. Similarly, the office sector, while facing some challenges from remote work trends, remains resilient due to the ongoing need for collaborative workspaces and central business district locations. The retail sector will continue to adapt to evolving consumer preferences, with a focus on experience-driven retail and omnichannel strategies. Careful consideration of factors like interest rate fluctuations, construction costs, and regulatory changes will be crucial for investors navigating the complexities of this dynamic market. The forecast period of 2025-2033 offers a promising outlook for sustained growth within this sector. Recent developments include: • October 2023: Costco is planning a major expansion in Australia, with several new warehouses under construction and several prime locations being considered for future locations. Costco currently operates 15 warehouses in Australia, with plans to expand to 20 within the next five years, based on current stores and potential locations., • July 2023: A 45-storey BTR tower will be developed by Lendlease and Japanese developer Daiwa House, completing the final phase of Lendlease's Melbourne Quarter project and its second Build-to-Rent (BTR) project in Australia. The USD 650 million deal, similar to Lend lease's first 443-unit BTR project under construction in the 5.5 hectares of mixed-use space at Brisbane Showground, is a stand-alone investment and is separate from the company's ongoing efforts to build a wider BTR partnership, which will include several assets.. Key drivers for this market are: Rapid Urbanization, Government Initiatives Actively promoting the Construction Activities. Potential restraints include: Rapid Urbanization, Government Initiatives Actively promoting the Construction Activities. Notable trends are: Retail real estate is expected to drive the market.

Data files and R code supporting "How does a widespread reef coral maintain a population in an isolated environment?" at https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12537

The marital status is another term for civil status, or person's current relationship with a partner.