Penrith is located in New South Wales. New South Wales’ eighth-largest city, Penrith, is home to over 200,000 people. This accounts for 2.58% NSW population.
Penrith is a rapidly growing regional city that has seen steady population growth. The population was 3.0% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, significantly higher than the national average. Penrith is located only 50km west of Sydney CBD.
Our research shows that Penrith’s population will be 215,356 in June 2022. This is based on the fact that Australia Bureau Statistics ABS always follows Australia’s financial year.
This calculation is based upon the average annual growth rate of 1.42% in the last ten years. The analysis will be more accurate if we use the most recent years’ data (see the table below).
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Penrith’s Population Growth
The population grew by more than 6000 between 2006 and 2011. The future population is expected to grow by 256,000, with an estimated population of 256,000 by 2036.
The Penrith population has grown by 1.05% to 2.01% over the last ten years, adding approximately 2,120 to 3,907 people to the total population each year.
People prefer to stay in Penrith because it is cheaper than Sydney and less than an hour’s drive from Penrith to Sydney. This has led to a steady and robust growth rate over the last few years.
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
| 2011 | 184,589 | n/a |
| 2012 | 187,103 | 1.3% |
| 2013 | 190,337 | 1.73% |
| 2014 | 194,015 | 1.93% |
| 2015 | 197,922 | 2.01% |
| 2016 | 200,106 | 1.1% |
| 2017 | 202,335 | 1.11% |
| 2018 | 204,455 | 1.05% |
| 2019 | 207,464 | 1.47% |
| 2020 | 210,137 | 1.44% |
| 2021 | 212,343 | 1.05% |
Demographics of Penrith
According to the Australian census, Penrith is diverse, with many ethnic and cultural groups. Penrith’s top five ancestries are English, Irish and Scottish.
Besides English, Penrith’s top five languages are Arabic, Tagalog, and Maltese. Penrith’s religious makeup is as follows: 35.2% Catholic; 23.6% Anglican; 14% No Religion, 2.9% Presbyterian, Reformed, 2.7% Uniting Church.
Population density of Penrith
Penrith has a population density of 442 people per km, making it one of the most populated cities in New South Wales.
Occupations and Industries
Penrith’s main occupations are 17.8% Clerical and administrative workers, 13.3% Professionals, 13.3% Technical & trades workers. 10.7% Machinery operators, drivers, 10.6% Community & personal services workers, 9.7% Labourers. 9.6% Managers. 9.4% Sales workers. 1.7% Undescribed/Not stated.
Penrith’s primary industries include 11.9% Health and Social Assistance, 11.3% Retail Trade, 10.2% Manufacturing, and 8.2% Public Administration and Safety. 7.1% Transport, post, and warehousing. 6.9% Education. 6.7% Accommodation. 4.8% Professional, scientific, and technical services.
Facts about Penrith
- Penrith was named after Penrith, Cumbria, England.
- The Penrith area was home to the Mulgoa tribe, a Darug people, before the arrival of Europeans.
- Watkin Tench, the first British explorer to explore the area in 1789, named the Nepean River ‘after Lord Evan Nepean, who was under-secretary of the home department.
- Penrith Railway Station, a central railway station along the North Shore, Northern & Western Lines of the Sydney Trains network.
- Penrith’s median age was 34 years, significantly lower than the national average of 37 years.
- The Penrith area had 66% more residents who claimed to be Anglo-Saxon or Australian ancestors than the national average of 65.2%.
- In 1984, Fujieda in Japan became Penrith City’s first sister city.
- Penrith measures 404.9 km2.
References
The following links provide data for this topic:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: www.abs.gov.au
- New South Wales Government: www.nsw.gov.au
- Penrith City Council: www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au