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, 22.2% (944) of people in Whitfield (Qld) were born overseas, compared with 22.3% in Cairns (R). A further 73.1% (3,112) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Whitfield (Qld) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Whitfield (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whitfield (Qld), with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Not stated
2021 count
203
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
203
4.8%
-1.9pp
England
2021 count
191
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
191
4.5%
-0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
112
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
112
2.6%
-0.5pp
Japan
2021 count
56
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
56
1.3%
0.0pp
Philippines
2021 count
47
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
47
1.1%
+0.3pp
India
2021 count
44
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
44
1.0%
+0.7pp
Scotland
2021 count
39
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
39
0.9%
+0.1pp
Papua New Guinea
2021 count
37
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
37
0.9%
-0.2pp
Germany
2021 count
29
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
29
0.7%
0.0pp
South Africa
2021 count
29
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
29
0.7%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-82
-1.9pp
England
-10
-0.2pp
New Zealand
-21
-0.5pp
Japan
+2
0.0pp
Philippines
+11
+0.3pp
India
+32
+0.7pp
Scotland
+7
+0.1pp
Papua New Guinea
-9
-0.2pp
Germany
-1
0.0pp
South Africa
+7
+0.2pp
Data table
Birthplace for Whitfield (Qld). 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 | 203 | 4.8% | 8.6% | 285 | 6.7% | 9.7% | -82 | -1.9pp |
| England | 191 | 4.5% | 3.9% | 201 | 4.7% | 3.9% | -10 | -0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 112 | 2.6% | 2.8% | 133 | 3.1% | 3.1% | -21 | -0.5pp |
| Japan | 56 | 1.3% | 1.0% | 54 | 1.3% | 1.1% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Philippines | 47 | 1.1% | 1.3% | 36 | 0.8% | 1.2% | +11 | +0.3pp |
| India | 44 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 12 | 0.3% | 0.9% | +32 | +0.7pp |
| Scotland | 39 | 0.9% | 0.4% | 32 | 0.8% | 0.4% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Papua New Guinea | 37 | 0.9% | 1.4% | 46 | 1.1% | 1.5% | -9 | -0.2pp |
| Germany | 29 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 30 | 0.7% | 0.7% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| South Africa | 29 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 22 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +7 | +0.2pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.