Council area

Forbes, NSW

Forbes had a population of 9,319 at the 2021 Census (−2.8% since 2016). Median age 42.0. Median weekly household income $1,259. Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. Census 2026 data arrives June 2027.

Forbes at a glance

What the 2021 Census says, compared with New South Wales.

In Central West

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Forbes's population shrank by 2.8% to 9,319, slower than New South Wales as a whole (+7.9%). With a median age of 42.0, it is older than the NSW average (39.0). Children under 10 make up 12.8% of residents, and people aged 70 and over 17.2%.

27.6% of households rent, a smaller share than the NSW average of 33.1%. 38.8% own their home outright. Almost every home is a house; flats and apartments are 4.6% of homes. The 2021 Census counted 3,563 households.

The median household earns $1,259 a week, below the NSW average of $1,829. Renters pay a median $230 a week, and households with a mortgage repay $1,283 a month.

4.7% of residents were born overseas, fewer than the NSW average of 31.0%. 2.3% use a language other than English at home. 28.1% report no religion, lower than the NSW average (35.7%).

Key figures

2021 Census, Forbes beside NSW and Australia.

MeasureForbesNSWAustralia
Population9,3198,072,16325,422,788
Growth since 2016−2.8%+7.9%+8.6%
Median age42.039.038.0
Households3,5632,900,4689,275,217
Flats and apartments4.6%21.8%14.3%
Renting27.6%33.1%31.1%
Owned outright38.8%32.0%31.4%
Median household income a week$1,259$1,829$1,746
Median rent a week$230$420$375
Median mortgage repayment a month$1,283$2,167$1,863
Born overseas4.7%31.0%29.3%
Other language at home2.3%28.2%23.6%
No religion28.1%35.7%41.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Population and age

Each census since 2011, and the age profile in 2021.

Population

−2.8% since 2016.

Population · each census
  1. 9,1682011
  2. 9,5872016
  3. 9,3192021

Age

Median age 42.0, against 39.0 for New South Wales.

Forbes New South Wales
Share of people by age, Forbes and New South Wales
0–912.8%
10–1912.9%
20–2910.5%
30–3910.8%
40–4910.6%
50–5913.1%
60–6912.2%
70–7910.9%
80+6.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Cultural background

The largest groups in Forbes at the 2021 Census.

Ancestry

Top 5 · ancestry
  1. Australian49.3%
  2. English43.8%
  3. Irish13.4%
  4. Australian Aboriginal13.2%
  5. Scottish9.5%

Languages at home

Top 5 · languages at home
  1. Mandarin0.2%
  2. Italian0.2%
  3. Nepali0.2%
  4. Cantonese0.2%
  5. Gujarati0.2%

Country of birth

Top 5 · country of birth
  1. England1.0%
  2. New Zealand0.6%
  3. India0.4%
  4. the Philippines0.4%
  5. China0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Around Forbes

The places it belongs to, sits beside and contains.

Explore Forbes in Censible

Every census figure for Forbes, mapped and compared with any other place. A free account takes a minute.