Over 25 million people live in Australia. About 85 percent of them live near the coast. Most Australians live in cities.
Nearly 64 percent of the people call the five largest cities home. They are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. These cities are major centers of trade, industry, and government. Australia’s big cities are coastal. That means city life is about swimming, boating, and surfing. These activities are as much a part of city life as going to the opera or attending a play.
Sydney has more than 5 million people. That makes it the nation’s largest city. The people of Sydney call themselves Sydneysiders. Like people in big cities everywhere, Sydneysiders lead a more hectic life than people in the country. But the people in Australian cities also know how to relax and have fun. City people are outdoor people. They like to play sports. They also like to go to sporting events. The biggest sports event in Sydney’s history took place in the year 2000. That was when the city hosted the Summer Olympics. But stay tuned – Brisbane will be hosting the Summer Olympics in 2032.