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Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia, with approximately 4,830,047 inhabitants. Established in 1788 as a British penal colony at Sydney Cove, it was the first permanent European settlement on the Australian continent. Over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Sydney developed into a major port, financial center, and cultural hub of the Asia-Pacific region. Its natural harbor, Port Jackson, has played a central role in its economic and maritime history.
Among its most iconic landmarks is the Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its distinctive architectural design, as well as the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The city is known for its multicultural population, universities, beaches, and global events such as New Year’s Eve celebrations. Notable individuals born in Sydney include Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe and actress Rose Byrne.
Sydney in Australia
151.2° E
Sydney Population Evolution
The population of Sydney in 2026 is estimated to 5,213,290 inhabitants. This estimate is taken from our extrapolation of available data and not an official estimate.
Population Summary
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3,948,015 | |
| 2006 | 4,119,190 | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 4,028,524 | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 4,446,805 | +10.4% |
| 2021 | 4,830,047 | +8.6% |
Interactive Map of Sydney
What to see in Sydney
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Hyde Park Barracks
King Street
Sydney Opera House
tourist attractionQueen Victoria Building
shopping centerBondi Beach
suburbFamous People Born in Sydney
Hugh Jackman
actorAustralian actor and singer
Rose Byrne
actorAustralian actress
Ian Thorpe
swimmerAustralian swimmer
Delta Goodrem
actorAustralian singer, songwriter, musician and actress
Sister Cities of Sydney
Sister cities, also known as twin cities, are formal partnerships between cities in different countries to promote cultural and commercial ties.
This list is based on publicly available structured data and may differ slightly from official municipal publications.
| City | Country | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou | 🇨🇳 People's Republic of China | 18,676,605 |
| Nagoya | 🇯🇵 Japan | 2,326,844 |
| San Francisco | 🇺🇸 United States | 873,965 |
| Florence | 🇮🇹 Italy | 360,930 |
| Portsmouth | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 248,440 |
| Wellington | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 216,200 |
Learn more about Sydney
Other facts about Sydney
Sources & References
- Wikidata
- Austrian Bureau of Statistics (accessed on 20 February 2026)