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, 48.2% (93,703) of people in Brimbank (C) were born overseas, compared with 35.7% in Greater Melbourne. A further 45.9% (89,271) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Brimbank (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Brimbank (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brimbank (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Vietnam
2021 count
25,391
% of total
13.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
25,391
13.0%
+1.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
11,623
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
11,623
6.0%
-1.3pp
India
2021 count
8,209
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
8,209
4.2%
-0.6pp
Philippines
2021 count
5,759
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
5,759
3.0%
0.0pp
Malta
2021 count
4,086
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
4,086
2.1%
-0.2pp
North Macedonia
2021 count
3,033
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3,033
1.6%
0.0pp
Italy
2021 count
2,819
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,819
1.4%
-0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
2,601
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
2,601
1.3%
-0.4pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
2,202
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,202
1.1%
-0.1pp
Croatia
2021 count
2,035
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,035
1.0%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnam
+3,689
+1.8pp
Not stated
-2,535
-1.3pp
India
-1,070
-0.6pp
Philippines
+13
0.0pp
Malta
-436
-0.2pp
North Macedonia
-35
0.0pp
Italy
-373
-0.2pp
New Zealand
-671
-0.4pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-192
-0.1pp
Croatia
-247
-0.2pp
Data table
Birthplace for Brimbank (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Vietnam | 25,391 | 13.0% | 1.8% | 21,702 | 11.2% | 1.8% | +3,689 | +1.8pp |
| Not stated | 11,623 | 6.0% | 4.4% | 14,158 | 7.3% | 6.3% | -2,535 | -1.3pp |
| India | 8,209 | 4.2% | 4.9% | 9,279 | 4.8% | 3.6% | -1,070 | -0.6pp |
| Philippines | 5,759 | 3.0% | 1.2% | 5,746 | 3.0% | 1.0% | +13 | 0.0pp |
| Malta | 4,086 | 2.1% | 0.3% | 4,522 | 2.3% | 0.4% | -436 | -0.2pp |
| North Macedonia | 3,033 | 1.6% | 0.4% | 3,068 | 1.6% | 0.4% | -35 | 0.0pp |
| Italy | 2,819 | 1.4% | 1.2% | 3,192 | 1.6% | 1.4% | -373 | -0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 2,601 | 1.3% | 1.7% | 3,272 | 1.7% | 1.8% | -671 | -0.4pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 2,202 | 1.1% | 3.4% | 2,394 | 1.2% | 3.5% | -192 | -0.1pp |
| Croatia | 2,035 | 1.0% | 0.3% | 2,282 | 1.2% | 0.3% | -247 | -0.2pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.