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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Cobar is $340k. House values have moved 7.7% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Cobar has an estimated 3,584 residents. The population has thinned by an average 0.7% a year over five years, slower than 94% of areas nationally. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census the suburb of Cobar has an estimated residency of approximately 3,584 in May 2026. This represents a contraction of 19 people (0.5%) relative to the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 3,603 people. This trend is deduced from the resident population of 3,584, calculated by AreaSearch after assessing the most recent ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) along with address verification following the Census date. Such a population count corresponds to a density ratio of 1.6 persons per square kilometer, which ensures a generous amount of space for each resident.
Over the preceding ten years, the suburb of Cobar has shown stable growth trajectories with a -1.3% compound annual growth rate, ahead of the SA3 area. Population gains in the area were chiefly driven by natural growth, which accounted for roughly 71.0% of overall population increases in recent times. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic trends for the suburb of Cobar, projections show a drop in the total population, with the cohort of the area set to shrink by 823 persons by 2041 using this approach. Even so, expansion is expected within particular age brackets, headed by the 85 and over age group, which is forecast to grow by 28 people. See the age section for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Cobar experiences very limited development activity averaging less than 1 approvals per year (totalling minimal across the past five years). Such low development levels are characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is naturally limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Note; with such low approval numbers, yearly growth figures and relativities can vary considerably based on individual projects. Cobar naturally has much lower development activity compared to Rest of NSW. The development pattern is also well below national averages. With population projections showing stability or decline, Cobar should see reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cobar
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 5 current infrastructure and development projects inside Cobar, worth an estimated $597 million. A further 54 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $29 billion. 21 are already under construction and 21 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and energy. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects and planning initiatives. In total 6 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Grand Central Precinct Planning and Design Project, Federation Mine, Old Hospital Site Residential Estate, and Great Cobar Museum Coach House and Underground Mine Experience, with the below list detailing those likely to be of most relevance.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Grand Central Precinct Planning and Design Project
Cobar Shire Council is undertaking the Grand Central Precinct Planning and Design Project to drive economic and social revitalisation in the Cobar town centre. The project delivers detailed planning and design works across five key sites, bringing each to construction and tender-ready status: the Grand Hotel Redevelopment (transforming the heritage building into a cultural-commercial hub with retail, hospitality, co-working and accommodation); Library Upgrade (enhancing youth, technology and community spaces); Town Hall Restoration (multi-purpose community, arts and events use); Brennan Centre Expansion (six new senior housing units and a community room); and streetscape enhancements.No construction works are included in this phase. Tenders for the Brennan Centre Seniors Living Upgrade and CBD Upgrade projects closed in late 2025, with a scoping study for the Grand Hotel underway and an RFQ for the Library Feasibility Study released.
Old Hospital Site Residential Estate
Proposed residential subdivision on the former hospital site on Lerida Road, purchased by Cobar Shire Council in July 2022 to provide new housing options. The development is intended to attract families, professionals, and medical staff to Cobar and complement the adjacent health precinct. The project is currently in the planning phase, aligning with the development of the Cobar Local Housing Strategy.
Great Cobar Museum Coach House and Underground Mine Experience
Construction of a new Coach House building to replace the existing one for the safe storage and display of large historical exhibits, and the creation of a new interactive underground mining experience to enhance the visitor experience and showcase Cobar's mining heritage. This is Phase 2 of the Great Cobar Museum upgrades.
Federation Mine
High-grade polymetallic underground mine in the Cobar Basin producing zinc, lead, gold, copper, and silver. The project officially transitioned to commercial production on 1 July 2025 and is operating ahead of plan. Ore haulage is directed to the Peak processing plant.
Cobar Wind Farm
Proposed wind farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) featuring up to 30 turbines (up to 280m in height) with a 216 MW installed capacity and a 50MW/100MWh BESS across approximately 7,800 hectares of agricultural grazing land. The project aims to power approximately 130,000 homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 498,000 tonnes per year, producing around 756 GWh annually. Currently in the Prepare EIS stage under State Significant Development assessment (SSD-68084467). A key challenge is insufficient existing transmission capacity to support a grid connection without significant upgrades, which WestWind Energy is actively working to resolve.
Lachlan Views Estate (Scott Street Sub-division)
A council led residential subdivision in Condobolin providing around 22 new house and land lots on Scott Street and Officers Parade. Civil and road works were largely completed in the 2024/25 financial year, with Stage 1 lots now released to market through local agents to help address housing supply and support the town's growth.
GrainCorp Condobolin Rail Siding Upgrade
Upgrade of the rail siding at GrainCorp's Condobolin grain receival facility in central west NSW, delivering about 900 metres of additional siding and increasing loading capacity from 30 to 48 wagons. The A$7.96 million project enables longer, heavier trains, cuts round-trip train times by around 12 hours, shifts more grain from road to rail, and is expected to remove up to 900 truck movements a year from local roads, improving safety and freight efficiency for regional grain growers.:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Narromine Industrial Precinct
The development of an industrial precinct along the impending Inland Rail. The site will be built with 40 hectares to accommodate interested businesses, with plans to expand to up to 100 hectares in its second phase. The Narromine industrial precinct will have the capacity to generate 700 jobs.
1,769 residents of Cobar are employed, from a labour force of 1,800. Unemployment sits at 1.7%, with participation at 65.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 4.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,777, about 77% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Cobar features a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented, and an unemployment rate of just 1.7%, based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of March 2026, 1,769 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 2.4% below Regional NSW's rate of 4.1%, and workforce participation is fairly standard (65.1% compared to Regional NSW's 60.6%). Based on Census responses, a low 4.5% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents include mining, retail trade, and education & training.
The area shows particularly strong specialization in mining, with an employment share of 14.1 times the regional level. On the other hand, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 6.6% of Cobar's workforce compared to 16.9% in Regional NSW. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, aggregated from broader statistical areas, during the year to March 2026, the labour force decreased by 2.3% while employment declined by 1.7%, resulting in the unemployment rate fall by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced employment decline of 0.9% and labour force decline of 0.4%, with a 0.5 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Cobar. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Cobar's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 4.5% over five years and 10.8% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Cobar is $1,816 a week (about $94,000 a year), with median personal income at $937 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $61,851 a year against an average of $75,331. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, the suburb of Cobar's median income among taxpayers is $61,851, with an average of $75,331. This is well above average nationally, and compares to Regional NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $68,234 (median) and $83,105 (average) as of March 2026. From the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 71st percentile ($937 weekly), while household income sits at the 54th percentile.
Distribution data shows the largest segment comprises 32.5% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,164 residents), consistent with broader trends across the region showing 29.9% in the same category. After housing costs, residents retain 91.9% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Cobar had 1,257 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 90% detached houses and 5% apartments. 29% are owned with a mortgage, 36% rented and 35% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $200 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,109 a month. Rent absorbs 11.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 14.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Dwelling structure within Cobar, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 90.0% houses and 10.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Cobar was lagging that of Regional NSW, at 34.6%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (29.1%) or rented (36.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional NSW average at $1,109, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $200, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330.
Nationally, Cobar's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Cobar counted 1,257 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 26% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households dominate at 64.5% of all households, comprising 25.5% couples with children, 26.5% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 35.5%, with lone person households at 33.2% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size of 2.3 people is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.7% of adults in Cobar hold a university qualification, including 11.2% with a bachelor degree and 2.2% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 87% of areas nationally. A further 36.5% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 553 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 880 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The locality encounters educational hurdles, with university graduation rates (14.7%) falling well below the NSW average of 32.2%. This constitutes both a difficulty and a chance for focused educational campaigns. Bachelor degrees constitute the largest share at 11.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Technical and trade expertise is prominent, with 43.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding professional credentials – advanced diplomas (7.3%) and certificates (36.5%). Educational attendance is remarkably strong, with 35.2% of local residents actively enrolled in formal study. This figure is made up of 14.6% in primary school, 9.3% in secondary school, and 3.1% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Cobar means driving: households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit assessment shows 91 active transport locations in service within the suburb of Cobar, consisting of a combination of rail and bus options. These stations are connected to 7 distinct routes, which combine to offer 79 weekly passenger journeys. Commuting connectivity is classified as outstanding, with residents typically living 131 meters from their closest transit stop. As a majorly residential locality, the bulk of residents commute outward - private vehicles remain the primary transit mode at 90%, while 8% of people walk. Vehicle ownership numbers average 1.4 per household.
A low 4.5% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data, which might reflect COVID-19 rules. Transit frequency averages 11 trips daily across all transport routes, which translates to virtual absence of weekly journeys per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
68.5% of residents in Cobar report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 78% of areas nationally. 4.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.7% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health datasets show notable challenges facing the suburb of Cobar, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality patterns and chronic ailment rates, with the presence of widespread medical conditions notable among both youth and senior groups, and the proportion of private health insurance found to be extremely high at roughly 57% of the entire population (~2,031 people). This compares to 51.9% throughout Regional NSW. The most frequent medical ailments in the locality were determined to be asthma and arthritis, affecting 8.8 and 7.8% of residents, respectively, while 68.5% of the population reported being entirely free of medical issues, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW.
Health statistics for the working-age cohort are generally average. The locality has 18.2% of residents aged 65 and over (652 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health status among seniors presents some challenges, with nationwide standings generally matching the broad population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cobar is largely Australian-born, at 90.7% of residents, with 5.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (35.4%) and English (26.9%). 10.9% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The suburb of Cobar displays below-average scores for cultural diversity, with 80.0% of the population holding citizenship, 90.7% born in Australia, and 94.3% speaking only English at home. The predominant religious affiliation in the area is Christianity, representing 64.1% of residents, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Concerning family heritage (parental birth countries), the three primary represented cohorts in the suburb of Cobar are Australian, making up 35.4% of the community, which is significantly above the regional rate of 30.0%, English, making up 26.9% of the population, and Australian Aboriginal, making up 10.9% of the population, which is considerably higher than the regional rate of 4.6%.
Furthermore, there are visible variations in the presence of other ethnic demographics: Samoan is particularly overrepresented at 0.4% in the suburb of Cobar (vs 0.1% across the region), New Zealand at 0.7% (vs 0.4%) and Maori at 0.5% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Cobar is 36. 25.8% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The 36-year median age in Cobar is significantly below Regional NSW's average of 43 similarly somewhat younger than Australia's 38 years. The 25 - 34 age group shows strong representation at 14.2% compared to Regional NSW, whereas the 65 - 74 cohort is less prevalent at 9.8%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.0% to 5.9% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 13.0% to 11.0% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 10.6% to 9.3%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Cobar.
Leading the demographic shift, the 85+ group will grow by 34% (30 people), reaching 120 from 89. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 100% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0 to 4 and 45 to 54 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Cobar
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 5 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (3,603 at the 2021 Census → 3,584 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL10948). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.