Sydney

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 4,119,190 people were usually resident in Sydney: of these 49.3% were male and 50.7% were female. Of the total population 1.1% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 19.5% of people usually resident in Sydney were children aged 0-14 years, and 22.5% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 35 years.

In the 2006 Census, 82.6% of people usually resident in Sydney were Australian citizens, 31.7% were born overseas and 1.1% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 49.7% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Sydney were married, 10.4% were either separated or divorced, 5.6% were widowed and 34.4% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 60.4% of people usually resident in Sydney, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 3.5%, China 2.6%, New Zealand 2.0%, Viet Nam 1.5% and Lebanon 1.3%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Sydney were Catholic 29.1%, Anglican 17.9%, No Religion 14.1%, Eastern Orthodox 4.3% and Islam 3.9%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Sydney were Arabic 3.9%, Cantonese 3.0%, Mandarin 2.3%, Greek 1.9% and Vietnamese 1.8%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 64.0%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 2,010,009 people aged 15 years and over in Sydney were in the labour force. Of these 63.1% worked full-time, 25.7% worked part-time, 3.2% were away from work, 2.8% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 5.3% were unemployed. 1,052,818 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Sydney were Professionals 23.8%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 16.7%, Managers 13.2%, Technicians and Trades Workers 12.7%, Sales Workers 9.5%, Labourers 8.1%, Community and Personal Service Workers 8.0% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 6.0%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Sydney, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 4.0%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 3.6%, Hospitals 3.2%, Legal and Accounting Services 2.8% and Depository Financial Intermediation 2.2%.

In the 2006 Census in Sydney, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $518, the median family income was $1,350 and the median household income was $1,154.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 1,063,384 families in Sydney: of these 33.2% were couple families without children, 49.3% were couple families with children, 15.6% were one parent families and 1.9% were other families.

Dwelling structure

Dwellings include visitor only and other not-classifiable households unless otherwise stated

In the 2006 Census 1,521,465 occupied private dwellings were counted in Sydney.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Sydney, 61.7% were separate houses, 11.8% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 25.7% were flats, units or apartments and 0.7% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Sydney, 30.1% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 31.1% were owned with a mortgage and 29.7% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Sydney, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 61.9% were rented from a real estate agent, 15.3% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 20.7% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Sydney, the median weekly rent was $250. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,800. The average people per household was 2.7 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Sydney, 68.1% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 21.6% were single (or lone) person households and 3.9% were group households.