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, 10.4% (337) of people in Wollongbar were born overseas, compared with 12.5% in Ballina (A). A further 86.4% (2,802) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Wollongbar - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Wollongbar in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Ballina (A) and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Wollongbar, with comparison markers for Ballina (A).

Wollongbar
Ballina (A)

Not stated

2021 count

103

% of total

3.2%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

England

2021 count

96

% of total

3.0%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

New Zealand

2021 count

42

% of total

1.3%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

South Africa

2021 count

27

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Chile

2021 count

13

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Malaysia

2021 count

12

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Germany

2021 count

10

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

India

2021 count

10

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Zimbabwe

2021 count

10

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Birthplace for Wollongbar. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).

Birthplace for Wollongbar. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).
Birthplace for Wollongbar. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Ballina (A)%Count%Ballina (A)%Countpp
Not stated1033.2%5.9%1113.9%7.6%-8-0.7pp
England963.0%3.7%812.9%3.4%+15+0.1pp
New Zealand421.3%1.7%260.9%1.6%+16+0.4pp
South Africa270.8%0.6%130.5%0.6%+14+0.3pp
Chile130.4%0.1%70.2%0.1%+6+0.2pp
Malaysia120.4%0.1%30.1%0.1%+9+0.3pp
Germany100.3%0.4%70.2%0.3%+3+0.1pp
India100.3%0.4%40.1%0.2%+6+0.2pp
Zimbabwe100.3%0.1%80.3%0.1%+20.0pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.