Cultural diversity
Birthplace
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.
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, 52.7% (6,617) of people in Brisbane City were born overseas, compared with 31.8% in Brisbane (C). A further 39.5% (4,952) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Brisbane City - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Brisbane City in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brisbane City, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
Not stated
Korea, Republic of (South)
India
England
New Zealand
Philippines
Colombia
Taiwan
Thailand
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+207
-0.6pp
Not stated
+27
-2.3pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
-253
-4.1pp
India
+174
+0.6pp
England
+87
-0.2pp
New Zealand
+151
+0.6pp
Philippines
+201
+1.4pp
Colombia
+120
+0.5pp
Taiwan
-48
-1.2pp
Thailand
+158
+1.0pp
Data table
Birthplace for Brisbane City. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | pp | |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 1,046 | 8.3% | 3.0% | 839 | 8.9% | 2.8% | +207 | -0.6pp |
| Not stated | 978 | 7.8% | 3.8% | 951 | 10.1% | 5.8% | +27 | -2.3pp |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 526 | 4.2% | 0.8% | 779 | 8.3% | 0.9% | -253 | -4.1pp |
| India | 442 | 3.5% | 2.8% | 268 | 2.9% | 2.4% | +174 | +0.6pp |
| England | 434 | 3.5% | 3.4% | 347 | 3.7% | 3.5% | +87 | -0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 368 | 2.9% | 3.4% | 217 | 2.3% | 3.6% | +151 | +0.6pp |
| Philippines | 286 | 2.3% | 1.1% | 85 | 0.9% | 1.0% | +201 | +1.4pp |
| Colombia | 275 | 2.2% | 0.4% | 155 | 1.7% | 0.3% | +120 | +0.5pp |
| Taiwan | 259 | 2.1% | 0.8% | 307 | 3.3% | 0.9% | -48 | -1.2pp |
| Thailand | 244 | 1.9% | 0.3% | 86 | 0.9% | 0.3% | +158 | +1.0pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.