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, 31.8% (395,317) of people in Brisbane (C) were born overseas, compared with 27.2% in Greater Brisbane. A further 64.4% (800,414) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Brisbane (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Brisbane (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Brisbane and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brisbane (C), with comparison markers for Greater Brisbane.
Not stated
2021 count
47,090
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
47,090
3.8%
-2.0pp
England
2021 count
42,311
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
42,311
3.4%
-0.1pp
New Zealand
2021 count
41,744
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
41,744
3.4%
-0.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
36,768
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
36,768
3.0%
+0.2pp
India
2021 count
35,188
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
35,188
2.8%
+0.4pp
Vietnam
2021 count
16,616
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
16,616
1.3%
+0.1pp
South Africa
2021 count
14,254
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
14,254
1.1%
+0.1pp
Philippines
2021 count
14,214
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
14,214
1.1%
+0.1pp
Taiwan
2021 count
10,511
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
10,511
0.8%
-0.1pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
2021 count
10,339
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
10,339
0.8%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-18,549
-2.0pp
England
+2,991
-0.1pp
New Zealand
+1,057
-0.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+4,652
+0.2pp
India
+7,524
+0.4pp
Vietnam
+2,707
+0.1pp
South Africa
+2,396
+0.1pp
Philippines
+2,956
+0.1pp
Taiwan
+473
-0.1pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
+146
-0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Brisbane (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 47,090 | 3.8% | 4.5% | 65,639 | 5.8% | 6.1% | -18,549 | -2.0pp |
| England | 42,311 | 3.4% | 3.8% | 39,320 | 3.5% | 4.0% | +2,991 | -0.1pp |
| New Zealand | 41,744 | 3.4% | 4.4% | 40,687 | 3.6% | 4.7% | +1,057 | -0.2pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 36,768 | 3.0% | 1.7% | 32,116 | 2.8% | 1.6% | +4,652 | +0.2pp |
| India | 35,188 | 2.8% | 2.0% | 27,664 | 2.4% | 1.6% | +7,524 | +0.4pp |
| Vietnam | 16,616 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 13,909 | 1.2% | 0.7% | +2,707 | +0.1pp |
| South Africa | 14,254 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 11,858 | 1.0% | 1.0% | +2,396 | +0.1pp |
| Philippines | 14,214 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 11,258 | 1.0% | 0.9% | +2,956 | +0.1pp |
| Taiwan | 10,511 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 10,038 | 0.9% | 0.5% | +473 | -0.1pp |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 10,339 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 10,193 | 0.9% | 0.5% | +146 | -0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.