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, 23.5% (27,738) of people in Cardinia (S) were born overseas, compared with 35.7% in Greater Melbourne. A further 71.6% (84,554) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Cardinia (S) - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Cardinia (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Cardinia (S), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Cardinia (S)
Greater Melbourne

Not stated

2021 count

5,860

% of total

5.0%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

India

2021 count

5,139

% of total

4.3%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

England

2021 count

4,204

% of total

3.6%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Sri Lanka

2021 count

2,279

% of total

1.9%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

New Zealand

2021 count

1,941

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Philippines

2021 count

1,125

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Pakistan

2021 count

700

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)

2021 count

643

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Scotland

2021 count

616

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

South Africa

2021 count

601

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Birthplace for Cardinia (S). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Birthplace for Cardinia (S). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Birthplace for Cardinia (S). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
Not stated5,8605.0%4.4%5,9096.3%6.3%-49-1.3pp
India5,1394.3%4.9%1,6681.8%3.6%+3,471+2.5pp
England4,2043.6%2.7%4,1334.4%3.0%+71-0.8pp
Sri Lanka2,2791.9%1.3%8800.9%1.2%+1,399+1.0pp
New Zealand1,9411.6%1.7%1,6431.7%1.8%+298-0.1pp
Philippines1,1251.0%1.2%6120.7%1.0%+513+0.3pp
Pakistan7000.6%0.6%1420.2%0.4%+558+0.4pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)6430.5%3.4%2780.3%3.5%+365+0.2pp
Scotland6160.5%0.4%5960.6%0.4%+20-0.1pp
South Africa6010.5%0.6%4560.5%0.5%+1450.0pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.