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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Sydney

Overseas arrivals

2,021,083 people who were living in Greater Sydney in 2021 were born overseas, and 19% arrived in Australia within 5 years prior to 2021.

The Year of Arrival data records when the overseas born population arrived in Australia. The data shows the degree to which areas are 'ports' for new overseas arrivals and reveals the role of Greater Sydney in housing the overseas-born. The number of recent overseas arrivals in an area is often determined by housing affordability, employment opportunities and pre-existing communities located in the area.

Greater Sydney's Year of Arrival data, when used with Birthplace, Religion and Language Spoken at Home data, is a good indicator of the likely need for services in migrant communities.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'In what year did the person first arrive in Australia to live here for one year or more?'

Overseas arrivals
Greater Sydney - Overseas born (Usual residence)2021
Year of arrival in AustraliaNumber%Australia %
Arrived in 1960 or earlier62,6693.14.9
1961 to 1970118,9535.97.9
1971 to 1980151,1217.57.7
1981 to 1990258,06612.811.2
1991 to 2000289,87114.311.3
2001 to 2010430,40321.322.1
2011 to 2015277,41413.714.5
2016 to Aug 2021385,56919.118.0
Not stated47,0172.32.4
Total2,021,083100.0100.0
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the year of arrival for the overseas born population of Greater Sydney in 2021 compared to Australia shows that there was a larger proportion of people who arrived before 2001, as well as a larger proportion of recent overseas arrivals (those who arrived between 2016 to Aug 2021).

Overall, 43.6% of the overseas born population arrived before 2001, and 19% arrived during or after 2016, compared with 43.0% and 18.0% respectively for Australia.

The major differences in year of arrival data in the population between Greater Sydney and Australia are:

  • A larger percentage of arrivals between 1991 to 2000 (14.3% compared to 11.3%)
  • A larger percentage of arrivals between 1981 to 1990 (12.8% compared to 11.2%)
  • A smaller percentage of arrivals between 1961 to 1970 (5.9% compared to 7.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of arrivals between Arrived in 1960 or earlier (3.1% compared to 4.9%)

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