People

Sydney has greater ethno-cultural diversity than most comparably sized metropolitan areas in the developed world.

Analysis of the recorded crime trends show that between 2000 and 2008 crime in New South Wales has been generally either stable or falling.

Examination of health statistics reveals significant variations by socio-economic position, geographic location and indigenous status.

Many people across New South Wales are now living in townhouses or apartments, while in some areas significant parts of the population rent.

Partly because New South Wales has the largest state population, there are more immigrants than in any other Australian state.

The Indigenous population has a markedly younger age structure than the non-Indigenous population, with larger proportions of young people and smaller proportions of older people.

By 2036 the median age in the State is projected to be 41 years, with one in five of the State’s residents 65 years and over.

Compared to other States and Territories, New South Wales is slightly more Christian in population than the average, but in the past fifty years that proportion has declined from about 90% to just over 70%.

The concept of social exclusion began in the 1990s and involved a multi-dimensional approach which included a focus on the forces that result in exclusion of groups such as ethnic minorities, the mentally ill and homeless people.

Tourism is a very important economic contributor to the State economy. In 2009 tourist expenditure was $21 billion and the industry provided employment, either directly or indirectly, for 280,000 people.