Quick facts
Sydney overview
Sydney (orange) and the other large cities of Australia
Sydney lies in New South Wales in Australia at 33.87°S, 151.21°E, about 58 m above sea level. The local time zone is Australia/Sydney (UTC+11); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Australia: the next largest cities are Melbourne (5,435,590), Brisbane (2,780,063), Perth (2,384,371). Together, the three largest cities hold 50.7% of the national population.
The national capital, Canberra, is about 247 km away; the nearest large city is Central Coast, 51 km from Sydney.
Australia as a whole has a live population of 27,301,322 (+0.9% a year) and ranks #55 of 238 countries — see the Australia population page for the full statistics and the Australia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Sydney
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Central Coast New South Wales | 51 km | 346,596 |
| Wollongong New South Wales | 68 km | 280,153 |
| Newcastle New South Wales | 117 km | 508,437 |
| Maitland New South Wales | 130 km | 89,597 |
Largest cities in Australia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney | New South Wales | 5,638,830 |
| 2 | Melbourne | Victoria | 5,435,590 |
| 3 | Brisbane | Queensland | 2,780,063 |
| 4 | Perth | Western Australia | 2,384,371 |
| 5 | Adelaide | South Australia | 1,469,163 |
| 6 | Gold Coast | Queensland | 640,778 |
| 7 | Newcastle | New South Wales | 508,437 |
| 8 | Sunshine Coast | Queensland | 398,840 |
| 9 | CanberraCapital | Australian Capital Territory | 367,752 |
| 10 | Central Coast | New South Wales | 346,596 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sydney?
Sydney has about 5,638,830 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Sydney the capital of Australia?
No. The capital of Australia is Canberra (367,752 people), about 247 km away. Sydney is the largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Sydney compared with the rest of Australia?
Its 5,638,830 residents are 20.7% of the 27,301,322 people living in Australia today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Sydney?
In New South Wales, Australia, at latitude -33.87 and longitude 151.21, 58 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Central Coast (51 km), Wollongong (68 km), Newcastle (117 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Sydney Population 2026 — Australia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/australia/sydney/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/australia/sydney/">Sydney Population 2026 — Australia</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.