With a population of approximately 5.3 million people (as of the 2021 Census), Greater Sydney is Australia's largest city. The population has grown steadily, driven heavily by international migration, making it one of the most multicultural cities in the world.
* **Demographics:** The median age of a Sydneysider is 36 years. The gender split is roughly even. * **Ethnic Composition:** Nearly half of Sydney's residents were born overseas. While the most common ancestries are English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish, there are vast and vibrant communities of Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Lebanese, and Filipino heritage. * **Languages:** While English is the official and most widely spoken language, over 35% of households speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, and Vietnamese. * **Religions:** The population is religiously diverse. Christianity (Catholicism and Anglicanism) remains the largest religious affiliation, though the number of people identifying as having "No Religion" is growing rapidly and represents the largest single demographic block. Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism also have significant followings. * **Socioeconomics:** Sydney boasts a highly educated workforce with a large percentage of university graduates, though there is a recognized income and employment divide between the more affluent eastern and northern suburbs and parts of Western Sydney.
