In the decade to June 2025, NSW’s population expanded by 977,703, driven by 884,772 net overseas migration (NOM). The state lost 245,211 residents to other jurisdictions over the last decade, which was mostly offset by a natural increase of 403,898 (i.e., births minus deaths).
With NSW’s fertility rate of only 1.55 births per woman, most of the natural increase in the state’s population was also due to net overseas migration, i.e., migrants having children.
The latest projections from the Centre for Population show that Sydney will grow by 2.85 million people to 8.5 million by 2065-66, driven almost entirely by NOM, which is projected to add 2.77 million.
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