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, 18.5% (1,359) of people in Ashburton (S) were born overseas, compared with 17.7% in Regional WA. A further 62.2% (4,574) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Ashburton (S) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Ashburton (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ashburton (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Not stated
2021 count
1,422
% of total
19.3%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
1,422
19.3%
+2.1pp
New Zealand
2021 count
409
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
409
5.6%
-2.9pp
England
2021 count
194
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
194
2.6%
-1.3pp
Philippines
2021 count
101
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
101
1.4%
-0.8pp
Ireland
2021 count
56
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
56
0.8%
-0.6pp
South Africa
2021 count
52
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
52
0.7%
-0.4pp
Thailand
2021 count
49
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
49
0.7%
+0.4pp
Indonesia
2021 count
46
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
46
0.6%
+0.3pp
India
2021 count
37
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
37
0.5%
-0.4pp
Scotland
2021 count
32
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
32
0.4%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-822
+2.1pp
New Zealand
-692
-2.9pp
England
-314
-1.3pp
Philippines
-180
-0.8pp
Ireland
-121
-0.6pp
South Africa
-89
-0.4pp
Thailand
+11
+0.4pp
Indonesia
+6
+0.3pp
India
-84
-0.4pp
Scotland
-65
-0.3pp
Data table
Birthplace for Ashburton (S). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 1,422 | 19.3% | 10.2% | 2,244 | 17.2% | 10.5% | -822 | +2.1pp |
| New Zealand | 409 | 5.6% | 3.0% | 1,101 | 8.5% | 3.4% | -692 | -2.9pp |
| England | 194 | 2.6% | 5.0% | 508 | 3.9% | 5.1% | -314 | -1.3pp |
| Philippines | 101 | 1.4% | 1.2% | 281 | 2.2% | 1.2% | -180 | -0.8pp |
| Ireland | 56 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 177 | 1.4% | 0.4% | -121 | -0.6pp |
| South Africa | 52 | 0.7% | 1.1% | 141 | 1.1% | 1.1% | -89 | -0.4pp |
| Thailand | 49 | 0.7% | 0.3% | 38 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +11 | +0.4pp |
| Indonesia | 46 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 40 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +6 | +0.3pp |
| India | 37 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 121 | 0.9% | 0.5% | -84 | -0.4pp |
| Scotland | 32 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 97 | 0.7% | 0.6% | -65 | -0.3pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.