Population of Sydney
April 23rd 2007 05:10
Category: Guides
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan population estimated at 3.9 million residents, based on census data from 2004. In comparison, the entire country of Australia holds only 20 million, making it obvious that Sydney accounts for roughly one-fifth of the nations population.
To an observer in the city, however, it might never feel like millions of people are living in Sydney, and in fact, many suburbs have a quiet, sleepy atmosphere. However, Sydney encompasses a geographical area of over 12 000 square kilometers, a massive area that sprawls in all direction and is only halted by the ocean to the east, and the Blue Mountains to the west. The metropolitan city of Sydney has a population density of 345 people per square kilometer.
The last census was taken in 2001; at this time there were 3,997,321 people in the harbour city, with roughly 51% of the population being female.
There will be another census in 2006 which will accurately gauge the current population in Sydney. Due to heavy immigration, it is reasonable to expect the population to be over 4.3 million, the rough estimation of the population from 2003.
[SIZE=4]The shores of the Sydney Harbour were once home to several Aboriginal tribes, such as the Eora and the Cadigal, who lived off the land and the sea. The introduction of smallpox, however, decimated the indigenous Australians, who had no natural defense against virulent European diseases. Aboriginal populations were at ridiculous lows in Sydney, with only 22 500 residents of indigenous origins in 1991; the situation has improved, though, with the 2001 census reporting 38 749 people who identified themselves as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Australian-born Australians are decreasing in number, most likely due to the low birthrates of Australian families and the high immigration into Sydney. There are 2.45 million Australian born residents, while 1.23 million were born overseas and then later immigrated to Australia.
Interestingly enough, the United Kingdom is the largest source of Sydney residents (183 991) who were born overseas; it seems that the great weather and incomparable surf is a very strong pull for UK residents, who may feel dissatisfied with their own climate.
The second and third largest groups are the Chinese (82 029), excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan, and New Zealanders (81 963). Ten years ago, Chinese immigrants were a fraction of the total immigration flow, and Italians would have been a much larger population of migrants.
Certain uburbs_of_Sydney" target="_blank">suburbs have an ethnic trend, that is, there are a disproportionate number of people from a particular ethnic minority compared to other residents. For example, Strathfield, in he inner-west is home to many Koreans and Indians, while Bondi has a predominant Jewish community. In many ways, this is one of the great things about Sydney a train ride can take you away to a new culture go to Leichhardt for Italian pasta, visit Petersham for Portuguese chicken, stop by Marrickville for Greek souvlaki. In other respects, however, some neighborhoods, especially in the far west, have become ghettos, where the low-cost housing forces ethnic communities together, causing tension and violence.
Despite the recent outbreak of race-related riots on the Sydney beaches, the population of Sydney is fairly tolerant and peaceful walking around the Sydney CBD, youd never expect anything hostile to happen, and in fact, the cosmopolitan nature of the city is one of its greatest strengths.
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The last census was taken in 2001; at this time there were 3,997,321 people in the harbour city, with roughly 51% of the population being female.
There will be another census in 2006 which will accurately gauge the current population in Sydney. Due to heavy immigration, it is reasonable to expect the population to be over 4.3 million, the rough estimation of the population from 2003.
[SIZE=4]The shores of the Sydney Harbour were once home to several Aboriginal tribes, such as the Eora and the Cadigal, who lived off the land and the sea. The introduction of smallpox, however, decimated the indigenous Australians, who had no natural defense against virulent European diseases. Aboriginal populations were at ridiculous lows in Sydney, with only 22 500 residents of indigenous origins in 1991; the situation has improved, though, with the 2001 census reporting 38 749 people who identified themselves as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Australian-born Australians are decreasing in number, most likely due to the low birthrates of Australian families and the high immigration into Sydney. There are 2.45 million Australian born residents, while 1.23 million were born overseas and then later immigrated to Australia.
Interestingly enough, the United Kingdom is the largest source of Sydney residents (183 991) who were born overseas; it seems that the great weather and incomparable surf is a very strong pull for UK residents, who may feel dissatisfied with their own climate.
The second and third largest groups are the Chinese (82 029), excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan, and New Zealanders (81 963). Ten years ago, Chinese immigrants were a fraction of the total immigration flow, and Italians would have been a much larger population of migrants.
Certain uburbs_of_Sydney" target="_blank">suburbs have an ethnic trend, that is, there are a disproportionate number of people from a particular ethnic minority compared to other residents. For example, Strathfield, in he inner-west is home to many Koreans and Indians, while Bondi has a predominant Jewish community. In many ways, this is one of the great things about Sydney a train ride can take you away to a new culture go to Leichhardt for Italian pasta, visit Petersham for Portuguese chicken, stop by Marrickville for Greek souvlaki. In other respects, however, some neighborhoods, especially in the far west, have become ghettos, where the low-cost housing forces ethnic communities together, causing tension and violence.
Despite the recent outbreak of race-related riots on the Sydney beaches, the population of Sydney is fairly tolerant and peaceful walking around the Sydney CBD, youd never expect anything hostile to happen, and in fact, the cosmopolitan nature of the city is one of its greatest strengths.
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