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, 20.2% (1,069) of people in Watsonia were born overseas, compared with 24.5% in Banyule (C). A further 76.2% (4,038) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Watsonia - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Watsonia in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Watsonia, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).
Not stated
2021 count
195
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
195
3.7%
-1.0pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
117
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
117
2.2%
+0.1pp
England
2021 count
108
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
108
2.0%
-0.3pp
India
2021 count
100
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
100
1.9%
+0.5pp
New Zealand
2021 count
64
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
64
1.2%
+0.3pp
Malaysia
2021 count
55
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
55
1.0%
+0.5pp
Italy
2021 count
40
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
40
0.8%
0.0pp
Iran
2021 count
33
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
33
0.6%
+0.3pp
Sri Lanka
2021 count
33
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
33
0.6%
+0.1pp
Scotland
2021 count
28
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
28
0.5%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-49
-1.0pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+7
+0.1pp
England
-12
-0.3pp
India
+26
+0.5pp
New Zealand
+15
+0.3pp
Malaysia
+27
+0.5pp
Italy
+1
0.0pp
Iran
+15
+0.3pp
Sri Lanka
+7
+0.1pp
Scotland
-16
-0.3pp
Data table
Birthplace for Watsonia. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Banyule (C)% | Count | % | Banyule (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 195 | 3.7% | 3.1% | 244 | 4.7% | 5.1% | -49 | -1.0pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 117 | 2.2% | 3.0% | 110 | 2.1% | 2.9% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| England | 108 | 2.0% | 2.7% | 120 | 2.3% | 2.7% | -12 | -0.3pp |
| India | 100 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 74 | 1.4% | 1.7% | +26 | +0.5pp |
| New Zealand | 64 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 49 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +15 | +0.3pp |
| Malaysia | 55 | 1.0% | 0.9% | 28 | 0.5% | 0.8% | +27 | +0.5pp |
| Italy | 40 | 0.8% | 1.6% | 39 | 0.8% | 1.8% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Iran | 33 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 18 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +15 | +0.3pp |
| Sri Lanka | 33 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 26 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Scotland | 28 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 44 | 0.8% | 0.5% | -16 | -0.3pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.