2026, NSW

Demographics & education

People tables are based on a person's place of usual residence on Census night

In the 2016 Census, there were 32,490 people in 2026, NSW. Of these 49.4% were male and 50.6% were female. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people made up 0.4% of the population.

The median age of people in 2026, NSW was 33 years. Children aged 0 - 14 years made up 14.4% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 10.0% of the population.

Of people in 2026, NSW aged 15 years and over, 32.8% were married and 9.0% were either divorced or separated.

In 2026, NSW, of people aged 15 years and over, 32.8% of people were in a registered marriage and 19.5% were in a de facto marriage.

In 2026, NSW 31.4% of people were attending an educational institution. Of these, 17.7% were in primary school, 10.8% in secondary school and 21.8% in a tertiary or technical institution.

Of people aged 15 and over in 2026, NSW, 13.9% reported having completed Year 12 as their highest level of educational attainment, 6.8% had completed a Certificate III or IV and 9.2% had completed an Advanced Diploma or Diploma.

Cultural & language diversity

The most common ancestries in 2026, NSW were English 21.6%, Australian 15.1%, Irish 8.9%, Scottish 5.5% and Italian 4.1%.

Respondents had the option of reporting up to two ancestries on their Census form, and this is captured by the Ancestry Multi Response (ANCP) variable used in this table. Therefore, the total responses count will not equal the persons count for this area. Calculated percentages represent a proportion of all responses from people in 2026, NSW (including those who did not state an ancestry).

In 2026, NSW, 48.7% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were England 8.0%, South Africa 3.3%, New Zealand 2.9%, Brazil 2.2% and United States of America 1.7%.

In 2026, NSW, 27.0% of people had both parents born in Australia and 47.3% of people had both parents born overseas.

In 2026, NSW, the most common countries of birth for male parents were Australia 32.9%, England 8.8%, South Africa 4.1%, New Zealand 3.6% and Italy 2.4%.

In 2026, NSW, the most common countries of birth for female parents were Australia 35.1%, England 8.1%, South Africa 4.3%, New Zealand 3.5% and Brazil 2.3%.

The most common responses for religion in 2026, NSW were No Religion, so described 37.1%, Catholic 19.4%, Not stated 15.4%, Judaism 12.7% and Anglican 7.0%. In 2026, NSW, No Religion, so described was the largest religious group reported overall (43.8%) (this figure excludes not stated responses).

In 2026, NSW 67.9% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Spanish 2.6%, Portuguese 2.4%, French 2.1%, Russian 2.1% and Italian 1.8%.

Employment

There were 19,429 people who reported being in the labour force in the week before Census night in 2026, NSW. Of these 67.7% were employed full time, 24.5% were employed part-time and 3.7% were unemployed.

The ABS Labour Force Survey provides the official estimates of Australia's unemployment rate. More information about Census and labour force status is provided in Understanding the Census and Census Data.

Of employed people in 2026, NSW, 7.6% worked 1 to 15 hours, 9.6% worked 16 to 24 hours and 57.8% worked 40 hours or more.

The most common occupations in 2026, NSW included Professionals 39.1%, Managers 19.6%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 9.4%, Community and Personal Service Workers 9.1%, Sales Workers 8.0%, Technicians and Trades Workers 7.7%, Labourers 4.0% and Machinery Operators and Drivers 1.4%.

Of the employed people in 2026, NSW, the most common responses for industry of employment included Cafes and Restaurants 4.3%, Advertising Services 3.1%, Banking 3.0%, Computer System Design and Related Services 2.9% and Legal Services 2.5%.

The median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over in 2026, NSW was $1,191.

View the data quality statements for: Total personal income (INCP) Total family income (FINF) Total household income (HIND)

In 2026, NSW, on the day of the Census, the most common methods of travel to work for employed people included Car, as driver 35.3%, Train, bus 17.1%, Bus 9.2%, Worked at home 5.8% and Walked only 5.7%. On the day, 35.5% of employed people used public transport (train, bus, ferry, tram/light rail) as at least one of their methods of travel to work and 40.7% used car (either as driver or as passenger).

In 2026, NSW, of people aged 15 years and over, 67.2% did unpaid domestic work in the week before the Census. During the two weeks before the Census, 21.6% provided care for children and 7.6% assisted family members or others due to a disability, long term illness or problems related to old age. In the year before the Census, 18.2% of people did voluntary work through an organisation or a group.

View the data quality statements for: Unpaid domestic work (DOMP) Unpaid child care (CHCAREP) Unpaid assistance (UNCAREP) Voluntary work (VOLWP)

Of people who did unpaid domestic work in the week before the Census in 2026, NSW, 23.2% worked 5 to 14 hours, 6.6% worked 15 to 29 hours and 4.1% worked 30 hours or more.

Family composition

Of the families in 2026, NSW, 39.7% were couple families with children, 48.1% were couple families without children and 10.4% were one parent families.

In 2026, NSW, 21.0% of single parents were male and 79.0% were female.

Employment status of couple families

In 2026, NSW, of couple families with children, 34.8% had both partners employed full-time, 4.5% had both employed part-time and 22.4% had one employed full-time and the other part-time.

The ABS Labour Force Survey provides the official estimates of Australia's unemployment rate. More information about Census and labour force status is provided in Understanding the Census and Census Data.

Dwelling structure

Dwelling tables exclude visitor only and other non-classifiable households

In 2026, NSW, 87.2% of private dwellings were occupied and 12.8% were unoccupied.

View the data quality statements for: Dwelling type (DWTD) Dwelling Structure (STRD)

Of occupied private dwellings in 2026, NSW, 9.8% were separate houses, 16.4% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 72.6% were flats or apartments and 0.6% were other dwellings.

In 2026, NSW, of occupied private dwellings 16.9% had 1 bedroom, 46.5% had 2 bedrooms and 19.9% had 3 bedrooms. The average number of bedrooms per occupied private dwelling was 2.3. The average household size was 2.3 people.

View the data quality statements for: Number of bedrooms in a private dwelling (BEDD) Number of persons usually resident in dwelling (NPRD)

Of occupied private dwellings in 2026, NSW, 20.6% were owned outright, 21.5% were owned with a mortgage and 53.9% were rented.

Household composition

In 2026, NSW, of all households, 56.5% were family households, 28.8% were single person households and 14.8% were group households.

In 2026, NSW, 12.0% of households had a weekly household income of less than $650 and 38.6% of households had a weekly income of more than $3000.

Mortgage & rent

Proportions are calculated using all tenure types for occupied private dwellings. This excludes visitor only and other non-classifiable households.

The number of households where rent payments were 30% or more of an imputed income measure are expressed in this table as a proportion of the total number of households in an area (including those households which were not renting, and excluding the small proportion of visitor only and other non-classifiable households). The nature of the income imputation means that the reported proportion may significantly overstate the true proportion.

The number of households where mortgage repayments were 30% or more of an imputed income measure are expressed in this table as a proportion of the total number of households in an area (including those households which were renting, and excluding the small proportion of visitor only and other non-classifiable households). The nature of the income imputation means that the reported proportion may significantly overstate the true proportion.

Number of motor vehicles

In 2026, NSW, 46.0% of occupied private dwellings had one registered motor vehicle garaged or parked at their address, 23.2% had two registered motor vehicles and 5.4% had three or more registered motor vehicles.

Internet connection

In 2026, NSW, 88.5% of households had at least one person access the internet from the dwelling. This could have been through a desktop/laptop computer, mobile or smart phone, tablet, music or video player, gaming console, smart TV or any other device.

People characteristics

In 2026, NSW, 60.5% of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people were male and 39.5% were female. The median age was 33 years.

View the data quality statements for: Place of Usual Residence (PURP) Indigenous status (INGP)

Dwelling characteristics

Dwelling tables exclude visitor only and other non-classifiable households. These tables represent occupied private dwellings where at least one Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait islander person was present.

In 2026, NSW, for dwellings occupied by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, the average household size was 2.4 persons, with 1 persons per bedroom. The median household income was $2,025.

View the data quality statements for: Number of Bedrooms in Private Dwelling (BEDD) Household composition (HHCD) Indigenous household Indicator (INGDWTD)

In 2026, NSW, for dwellings occupied by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, the median weekly rent was $675 and the median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,990.

View the data quality statements for: Rent weekly payments (RNTD) Mortgage monthly repayments (MRED) Indigenous household Indicator (INGDWTD)