Huge disparities in population growth have emerged across Sydney as numbers spiral higher in some suburbs but remain well below pre-COVID levels in many others.

Around half of the city’s suburbs had not recovered their pre-pandemic head count by June 2023, new Bureau of Statistics population figures show. Among the largest declines compared with 2019 were Potts Point-Woolloomooloo (-2979), Kensington (-1115), Newtown (-906) and Bondi Beach-North Bondi (-896).

In contrast, the population has boomed in greenfield suburbs to the city’s west; Marsden Park-Shanes Park in Sydney’s north-west added nearly 18,000 people between 2019 and 2023.

Other suburbs to register strong post-pandemic growth include Wentworth Point-Sydney Olympic Park in the city’s central west, which added 6370 people in the period, and Mascot, which added 3700.

Sydney’s overall population growth slumped during pandemic border closures but has since recovered strongly; the city added 147,000 people last financial year, an increase of 2.8 per cent. The population of Greater Sydney reached 5.45 million.

Some neighbourhoods are absorbing a disproportionate share of the post-COVID population surge.

There are huge variations in population growth across Sydney.Credit: Wolter Peeters

The head count in the north-western suburb of Box Hill-Nelson rose 27 per cent last financial year (+3854 people), while Marsden Park-Shanes Park grew by 20 per cent (+3908 people).

Inner suburban areas popular with overseas students grew strongly, including Ultimo (+19.3 per cent) and Chippendale (+12.5 per cent).

QOSHE - Which Sydney suburbs are bearing the brunt of the population surge? - Matt Wade
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Which Sydney suburbs are bearing the brunt of the population surge?

9 1
28.03.2024

Huge disparities in population growth have emerged across Sydney as numbers spiral higher in some suburbs but remain well below pre-COVID levels in many others.

Around half of the city’s suburbs had not recovered their pre-pandemic head count by June 2023, new Bureau of Statistics population figures show. Among the largest declines compared with 2019 were Potts Point-Woolloomooloo (-2979),........

© The Sydney Morning Herald


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