Sydney

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 3,641,422 people were usually resident in Sydney: of these 49.3% were male and 50.7% were female. Of the total population 0.9% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 19.3% of people usually resident in Sydney were children aged 0-14 years, and 22.0% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 35 years.

In the 2006 Census, 81.8% of people usually resident in Sydney were Australian citizens, 34.0% were born overseas and 1.2% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 49.4% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Sydney were married, 10.1% were either separated or divorced, 5.4% were widowed and 35.0% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 57.9% of people usually resident in Sydney, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 3.4%, China 3.0%, New Zealand 2.0%, Viet Nam 1.7% and Lebanon 1.5%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Sydney were Catholic 29.2%, Anglican 16.5%, No Religion 14.1%, Eastern Orthodox 4.8% and Islam 4.4%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Sydney were Arabic 4.4%, Cantonese 3.4%, Mandarin 2.6%, Greek 2.2% and Vietnamese 2.0%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 60.8%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 1,789,554 people aged 15 years and over in Sydney were in the labour force. Of these 63.7% worked full-time, 25.2% worked part-time, 3.1% were away from work, 2.7% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 5.2% were unemployed. 920,122 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Sydney were Professionals 24.7%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 16.9%, Managers 13.2%, Technicians and Trades Workers 12.2%, Sales Workers 9.4%, Community and Personal Service Workers 7.9%, Labourers 7.8% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 5.8%.

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 3.9%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 3.6%, Hospitals 3.2%, Legal and Accounting Services 2.9% and Depository Financial Intermediation 2.3%.

In the 2006 Census in Sydney, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $529, the median family income was $1,386 and the median household income was $1,176.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 935,936 families in Sydney: of these 32.8% were couple families without children, 49.7% were couple families with children, 15.5% were one parent families and 2.1% were other families.

Dwelling structure

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

In the 2006 Census 1,345,131 occupied private dwellings were counted in Sydney.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Sydney, 58.7% were separate houses, 12.3% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 28.4% were flats, units or apartments and 0.5% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Sydney, 29.4% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 30.7% were owned with a mortgage and 30.6% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Sydney, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 62.4% were rented from a real estate agent, 15.6% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 19.9% 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 $1,833. 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, 67.7% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 21.5% were single (or lone) person households and 4.1% were group households.