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, 11.3% (12,809) of people in Ballarat (C) were born overseas, compared with 12.4% in Regional Vic.. A further 83.7% (95,208) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Ballarat (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Ballarat (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Ballarat (C), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..

Ballarat (C)
Regional Vic.

Not stated

2021 count

5,676

% of total

5.0%

Change from 2016

-1.8pp

England

2021 count

2,454

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

India

2021 count

1,846

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

New Zealand

2021 count

969

% of total

0.9%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)

2021 count

677

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Philippines

2021 count

631

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Netherlands

2021 count

495

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Scotland

2021 count

372

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

United States of America

2021 count

314

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Germany

2021 count

310

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Birthplace for Ballarat (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..

Birthplace for Ballarat (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Birthplace for Ballarat (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Vic.%Count%Regional Vic.%Countpp
Not stated5,6765.0%6.6%6,9626.8%8.3%-1,286-1.8pp
England2,4542.2%2.6%2,0742.0%2.6%+380+0.2pp
India1,8461.6%1.0%8600.8%0.6%+986+0.8pp
New Zealand9690.9%1.0%7650.8%1.0%+204+0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)6770.6%0.3%7170.7%0.3%-40-0.1pp
Philippines6310.6%0.6%4180.4%0.4%+213+0.2pp
Netherlands4950.4%0.4%5380.5%0.5%-43-0.1pp
Scotland3720.3%0.4%3580.4%0.4%+14-0.1pp
United States of America3140.3%0.2%2340.2%0.2%+80+0.1pp
Germany3100.3%0.4%2830.3%0.4%+270.0pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.