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Population and housing forecast for Sydney – City and Inner South
Our latest population and housing forecasts for Sydney – City and Inner South, which covers parts of the City of Sydney, Inner West and Bayside council areas, including the Sydney CBD, Pyrmont, Surry Hills, Redfern, Newtown, Marrickville, Mascot and Port Botany.
- Region
- Sydney – City and Inner South · SA4 117
- Councils
- Bayside (NSW) (part), Inner West (part), Randwick (part), Sydney (part), Unincorporated NSW (part)
- Built on
- Earlier national forecast (2021.2022.1)
- Released
- 21/08/2024
- Status
- Current
- Boundaries
- ASGS 2021 Ed. 3
- Horizon
- 2046
- Sydney
- Haymarket
- Pyrmont
- Surry Hills
- Redfern
- Waterloo
- Zetland
- Glebe
- Newtown
- Marrickville
- Mascot
- Botany
Where this region sits
- NationAustralia+8.6m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- StateNew South Wales+2.42m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462021.2022.x
- You are here: RegionSydney – City and Inner South+110,1574.6% of New South Wales' growth2021.2022.1.1.1 · Aug 2024
- Below the region27 small areas, all forecastSmall-area forecasts available through Placemaker.
New South Wales' share of national growth is set from the national drivers. This region's share of New South Wales is built from development assessed on the ground.
The forecast
335,429
Population, 2021
445,586
Population, 2046
+110,157
Total growth to 2046
+59,579
Additional dwellings
Population, dwellings and age structure, five-yearly
| Population | Dwellings | Age structure, % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total | Change | Total | Change | 0–14 | 15–64 | 65+ |
| 2021 | 335,429 | — | 177,716 | — | 9.9 | 79.8 | 10.3 |
| 2026 | 370,566 | +35,137 | 186,451 | +8,735 | 9.4 | 80.0 | 10.6 |
| 2031 | 398,084 | +27,518 | 200,318 | +13,867 | 9.2 | 79.8 | 11.0 |
| 2036 | 415,575 | +17,491 | 213,003 | +12,685 | 9.2 | 79.4 | 11.4 |
| 2041 | 431,001 | +15,426 | 225,157 | +12,154 | 9.2 | 79.1 | 11.7 |
| 2046 | 445,586 | +14,585 | 237,295 | +12,138 | 9.3 | 78.8 | 11.9 |
What we assess, and where
Different things drive population change at different scales. We form a view at each level, and each level constrains the one below it.
- Nation
- Overseas migration
- Fertility and life expectancy
- Housing completions
- State
- Share of overseas migration
- Interstate migration
- State housing policy
- Region (this page)
- Intrastate migration
- Development pipeline
- Capacity and limiting factors
- Ageing in place
- Suburb and site
- Site-by-site development assessment
- Dwelling type and density
Housing capacity, by area
| Sub-area (SA3) | Area character | Capacity used by 2046 |
|---|---|---|
| Botany | 78.4% | |
| Marrickville – Sydenham – Petersham | 77.7% | |
| Sydney Inner City | 68.1% | |
| Sydney – City and Inner South total | 69.3% |
How to read this
Capacity used is the share of an area's assessed dwelling capacity that the forecast draws down by 2046. Assessed capacity is post-census capacity across 504 tracked residential development sites, so it counts what those sites can hold, not every theoretical dwelling a planning control would permit.
The major sites that shape this forecast
| Site | Location | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Public Housing Estate (South) - Western Blocks | 248 George Street WATERLOO | Redevelopment | Approved |
| Blackwattle Bay Precinct (Residential/Mixed Use Sections) | 45 Bank Street PYRMONT | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Joynton Square (Potential Development) | 130 Joynton Avenue | Redevelopment | Pre-approved / Lapsed approval |
| Sydney potential development | Sydney | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
Our forecasting team
Places covered by this forecast
The largest of the 44 suburbs and localities in this region. Every one of them is forecast at small-area level, and any combination can be built into a custom catchment through Placemaker.
- Marrickville
- Mascot
- Sydney
- Waterloo
- Surry Hills
- Zetland
- Newtown
- Rosebery
- Redfern
- Botany
- Pyrmont
- Glebe
- Darlinghurst
- Alexandria
- Erskineville
- Camperdown
- Petersham
- Haymarket
- Chippendale
- Ultimo
- + 24 more
Plus 24 more. Search for any suburb or locality on our forecast analysis page.
Common questions about the forecast for Sydney – City and Inner South
A credible, independent forecast
Independent of government
Our forecasts are not commissioned by any government, so they give an independent view.
Granular forecasts for custom catchments
Forecast at small-area level, so they can be built up into any catchment you need, such as a school catchment, a retail trade area or a utility service area.
Every region, on one basis
A single national model, not a collection of unconnected local studies.
Assessed site by site
Built on a national development sites layer maintained by our own forecasters. 504 development sites assessed in this region alone.
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A named forecaster behind every region
Questions about a forecast go to the team who prepared it.
See the forecast for your exact area
Placemaker gives you the population, housing and development forecast for any catchment you draw inside this region, by single year, with the development pipeline behind it.