Sydney crime rate and Crime Score · New South Wales council area
Sydney is a council area in New South Wales with about 241,797 residents. It has a Crime Score 72 out of 100 (high), 55th of 362 councils nationally.
The score blends national percentile ranks for each published offence category with fixed severity weights; here it is driven most by assault (82nd percentile), robbery (95th percentile), sexual offences (79th percentile). Five years earlier the same basis gave 76.
In 2025-26: violent 2,409 per 100,000 (+17% vs five years earlier); property 6,505 per 100,000 (+9% vs five years earlier); break-ins 424 per 100,000 (+16% vs five years earlier); theft 3,981 per 100,000 (+23% vs five years earlier). For violent crime that is 14th of 129 New South Wales councils with data, highest first.
Unemployment in the Sydney council area is 5.6% (New South Wales 4.9%), Census, 10 August 2021. Social housing makes up 7.2% of occupied homes (5,641 public and 1,414 community-housing dwellings at the 2021 Census; New South Wales 4.2%). An estimated 3,514 people were homeless on Census night 2021, 160.5 per 10,000 residents (New South Wales 43.4), apportioned from ABS Statistical Area Level 2 counts. 52.1% of residents were born overseas (New South Wales 31%), most often in China, England, Thailand. Modelled estimates for 2026-27, not measurements: unemployment about 5.5% (confidence 85 of 100); social housing about 6.5% of homes; about 157.9 homeless people per 10,000 residents; about 53% born overseas. Confidence falls with distance from the last published figure, and the map's Estimates toggle shows every year back to 1994-95.
| Offences | Per 100,000 | Count | 5-yr change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent | 2,409 | 5,824 | +17% |
| Property | 6,505 | 15,728 | +9% |
| Break-ins | 424 | 1,026 | +16% |
| Theft | 3,981 | 9,625 | +23% |
Questions
Is Sydney safe?
Sydney recorded 2,410 violent offences per 100,000 residents in 2025-26, 2.1 times the New South Wales rate (1,150) and about 88% higher than the national rate (1,280). Its Crime Score is 72.1 out of 100 (high), 55th of 362 councils. These are offences recorded by police per resident: they describe the area as a whole, not the risk on any particular street, and places with a busy centre record more because offences are counted where they happen.
How many break-ins are there in Sydney?
1,026 break-ins were recorded in 2025-26: 424 per 100,000 residents, about 41% higher than the New South Wales rate (301).
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Police news near Sydney
- Two men charged following Sydney CBD ram raid investigation · Sydney, 27 Oct 2026 · 2 km away
- Three charged, two extradited after fatal stabbing - Waterloo · Waterloo, 23 Oct 2026 · 2 km away
- Sex Crimes Squad detectives arrest man over alleged historical child sexual assault - Redfern · Redfern, 8 Oct 2026
- CCTV released as investigation into fatal stabbing continues - Waterloo · Waterloo, 30 Sept 2026 · 2 km away
- Police officer killed in crash - Redfern · Redfern, 25 Sept 2026
Part of Sydney: Sydney crime rate and crime map.
Suburbs in the Sydney council area
Alexandria · Barangaroo · Beaconsfield · Camperdown · Chippendale · Darlinghurst · Darlington · Dawes Point · Elizabeth Bay · Erskineville · Eveleigh · Forest Lodge · Glebe · Haymarket · Millers Point · Moore Park · Newtown · Potts Point · Pyrmont · Redfern · Rosebery · Rushcutters Bay · Surry Hills · Sydney · The Rocks · Ultimo · Waterloo · Waterloo DC · Woolloomooloo · Zetland
Postcodes in the Sydney council area
2000 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2021 · 2037 · 2042 · 2043
australiancrimerate.com.au/council/nsw-sydney/ · Australian Crime Map