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, 33% (1,755) of people in Cairns North were born overseas, compared with 22.3% in Cairns (R). A further 50.3% (2,680) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Cairns North - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Cairns North in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns North, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Not stated
2021 count
890
% of total
16.7%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
890
16.7%
-1.8pp
England
2021 count
195
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
195
3.7%
-0.4pp
India
2021 count
192
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
192
3.6%
-1.3pp
New Zealand
2021 count
154
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
154
2.9%
-0.5pp
Philippines
2021 count
94
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
94
1.8%
+0.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
76
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
76
1.4%
0.0pp
Japan
2021 count
75
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
75
1.4%
-1.1pp
Papua New Guinea
2021 count
68
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
68
1.3%
-0.1pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
2021 count
51
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
51
1.0%
-1.0pp
Germany
2021 count
50
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
50
0.9%
0.0pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-69
-1.8pp
England
-17
-0.4pp
India
-62
-1.3pp
New Zealand
-22
-0.5pp
Philippines
+11
+0.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+4
0.0pp
Japan
-54
-1.1pp
Papua New Guinea
-5
-0.1pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
-50
-1.0pp
Germany
+5
0.0pp
Data table
Birthplace for Cairns North. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 890 | 16.7% | 8.6% | 959 | 18.5% | 9.7% | -69 | -1.8pp |
| England | 195 | 3.7% | 3.9% | 212 | 4.1% | 3.9% | -17 | -0.4pp |
| India | 192 | 3.6% | 1.1% | 254 | 4.9% | 0.9% | -62 | -1.3pp |
| New Zealand | 154 | 2.9% | 2.8% | 176 | 3.4% | 3.1% | -22 | -0.5pp |
| Philippines | 94 | 1.8% | 1.3% | 83 | 1.6% | 1.2% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 76 | 1.4% | 0.5% | 72 | 1.4% | 0.5% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Japan | 75 | 1.4% | 1.0% | 129 | 2.5% | 1.1% | -54 | -1.1pp |
| Papua New Guinea | 68 | 1.3% | 1.4% | 73 | 1.4% | 1.5% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 51 | 1.0% | 0.4% | 101 | 2.0% | 0.6% | -50 | -1.0pp |
| Germany | 50 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 45 | 0.9% | 0.7% | +5 | 0.0pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.