Sydney births fall to 20-year low as housing prices force families out
Sydney's birth rate hit a 20-year low in 2024 as median house prices rose and affordable suburbs emptied.
Sydney's housing crisis is now affecting birth rates. New analysis shows that as median house prices climbed in affordable suburbs between 2019 and 2024, births fell sharply in those same areas.
In 2019, 199 Sydney neighbourhoods had median prices between $400,000 and $900,000; those areas accounted for two-thirds of all Sydney births (41,872). By 2024, only 86 neighbourhoods remained in that price range, with births in those areas dropping to just 17,262.
Overall, Greater Sydney births fell to 58,122 in 2024, the lowest in two decades. The culprit: young families priced out of parenthood.
In western Sydney, median house prices jumped $250,000 to $300,000 in five years, while births fell by 21 to 25 per cent. Some families move to Newcastle, Brisbane, or regional NSW, where housing is cheaper.
Economists warn Sydney's fertility rate has fallen to 1.4 per woman, below the 2.1 replacement level.
- 41,872 (2019) to 17,262 (2024)
- Births in affordable zones
- 58,122 in 2024
- Greater Sydney total births
- $250,000 to $300,000 in five years
- Price jump in western Sydney
- 1.4 per woman
- Fertility rate
Why it mattersSydney is becoming unaffordable for young families, driving a demographic shift with long-term consequences for the economy and population growth.
AustraliaYoung Australians in Sydney are leaving the city or delaying parenthood; regional towns gain families while Sydney's population growth slows.
Corroborated bytheage.com.au·watoday.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
