Cultural diversity
Birthplace
About this topic
Birthplace records the country in which a person was born. It is a core measure of migration history and cultural diversity and helps distinguish Australia-born and overseas-born populations.
This topic is useful for understanding settlement patterns and the likely language, service, and support needs of different communities. It should be interpreted together with ancestry, language used at home, and religion for a fuller view of cultural diversity.
Interpretation notes
- Country of birth measures birthplace only; it does not capture ancestry, ethnicity, or current citizenship on its own.
- Use birthplace with ancestry and language when interpreting cultural background, because many cultural groups include both Australia-born and overseas-born people.
Key insight
In 2021, 51.8% (9,431) of people in Adelaide were born overseas, compared with 45.4% in Adelaide (C). A further 41% (7,471) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Adelaide - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Adelaide in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Adelaide (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Adelaide, with comparison markers for Adelaide (C).
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
2,865
% of total
15.7%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
2,865
15.7%
-1.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,317
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
1,317
7.2%
-3.1pp
India
2021 count
681
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
681
3.7%
+1.8pp
England
2021 count
658
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
658
3.6%
+0.2pp
Malaysia
2021 count
648
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
648
3.6%
-0.7pp
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
2021 count
487
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
487
2.7%
-0.1pp
Vietnam
2021 count
367
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
367
2.0%
+1.0pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
2021 count
295
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
295
1.6%
-0.3pp
Singapore
2021 count
257
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
257
1.4%
-0.3pp
Philippines
2021 count
250
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
250
1.4%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+222
-1.9pp
Not stated
-229
-3.1pp
India
+392
+1.8pp
England
+147
+0.2pp
Malaysia
-6
-0.7pp
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
+70
-0.1pp
Vietnam
+221
+1.0pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
+12
-0.3pp
Singapore
0
-0.3pp
Philippines
+134
+0.6pp
Data table
Birthplace for Adelaide. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Adelaide (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | pp | |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 2,865 | 15.7% | 12.0% | 2,643 | 17.6% | 13.0% | +222 | -1.9pp |
| Not stated | 1,317 | 7.2% | 7.1% | 1,546 | 10.3% | 10.2% | -229 | -3.1pp |
| India | 681 | 3.7% | 3.4% | 289 | 1.9% | 2.1% | +392 | +1.8pp |
| England | 658 | 3.6% | 4.0% | 511 | 3.4% | 4.0% | +147 | +0.2pp |
| Malaysia | 648 | 3.6% | 2.9% | 654 | 4.3% | 3.4% | -6 | -0.7pp |
| Hong Kong (SAR of China) | 487 | 2.7% | 2.1% | 417 | 2.8% | 2.0% | +70 | -0.1pp |
| Vietnam | 367 | 2.0% | 1.7% | 146 | 1.0% | 0.9% | +221 | +1.0pp |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 295 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 283 | 1.9% | 1.4% | +12 | -0.3pp |
| Singapore | 257 | 1.4% | 1.1% | 257 | 1.7% | 1.3% | 0 | -0.3pp |
| Philippines | 250 | 1.4% | 1.3% | 116 | 0.8% | 0.7% | +134 | +0.6pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.