Sydney’s population to grow to 6,421,850 in 20 years

SYDNEY’S population is set to grow by more than 2.1 million people in the next 20 years putting yet more strain on the city’s housing, transport and infracture needs.

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SYDNEY’S population is set to grow by more than 2.1 million people in the next 20 years putting yet more strain on the city’s housing, transport and infracture needs.

And the NSW population will grow to 9,925,550 million by 2036 – another 2.7 million residents, according to updated forecasts released today by Planning Minister Rob Stokes.

Metropolitan Sydney will grow to 6,421,850 in 2036, a 167,900 increase on projected 2014 figures while 225,000 more people than forecast will call NSW home in that time.

Sydney’s population is set to grow by more than 2.1 million people in the next 20 years

Mr Stokes said a strong economy and lifestyle options as well as Sydney’s status as the nation’s only global city are driving the NSW’s status as the best state in the country.

“NSW is the state of opportunity,” Mr Stokes said. “Sydney is the economic capital of the country – and over the next 20 years we’ll cement that position.”

NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes

The increase on the 2014 figures reflect the strength of the booming NSW economy and the effect on encouraging interstate and overseas migration to NSW, he said.

The modelling used has updated previous estimates that 664,000 additional homes are needed in Sydney between 2011 and 2031. The revised population data suggest 726,000 homes now will be required between 2016 and 2036.

NSW is leading the nation in housing approvals, with approvals exceeding 70,000 for the last nine consecutive 12 month periods.

Over the next 20 years Sydney will have almost 500,000 more people aged 65 years or more. This will lead to big increases in the number of lone person and couple only households.

At the same time there is likely to be over 1.5 million babies born between 2016 and 2036. This means family with children households will continue to make up half of all households in Sydney.

“Sydney’s prosperity is attracting young workers who are settling in Sydney and starting families,” Mr Stokes said.

The revised forecasts will put strain on Sydney’s already stressed transport needs.

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“These people will need a job, somewhere to live and a convenient way to get between the two as well as plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants and parks to enjoy on the weekends.

“That’s why we’ve started planning for tomorrow today, with unprecedented investment in new public transport infrastructure.”

The NSW Government is taking an innovative approach to addressing Sydney’s housing needs, making it easier to build different types of homes like townhouses, terraces and dual occupancies.

These types of homes can increase housing supply while still providing greater variety and flexibility for the changing needs of our population.