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, 8.8% (343) of people in Smithton were born overseas, compared with 10.2% in Circular Head (M). A further 81.7% (3,197) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Smithton - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Smithton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Circular Head (M) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithton, with comparison markers for Circular Head (M).
Not stated
2021 count
371
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
371
9.5%
+1.3pp
New Zealand
2021 count
76
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
76
1.9%
-0.1pp
Pakistan
2021 count
64
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
64
1.6%
-
England
2021 count
47
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
47
1.2%
+0.3pp
India
2021 count
25
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
25
0.6%
+0.5pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
16
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
16
0.4%
+0.1pp
Papua New Guinea
2021 count
14
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-
14
0.4%
-
Philippines
2021 count
12
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
12
0.3%
-0.1pp
Netherlands
2021 count
11
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
11
0.3%
-0.1pp
Fiji
2021 count
10
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
10
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
+53
+1.3pp
New Zealand
0
-0.1pp
England
+11
+0.3pp
India
+21
+0.5pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+6
+0.1pp
Philippines
-5
-0.1pp
Netherlands
-5
-0.1pp
Fiji
0
0.0pp
South Africa
+2
+0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Smithton. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Circular Head (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Circular Head (M)% | Count | % | Circular Head (M)% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 371 | 9.5% | 9.7% | 318 | 8.2% | 9.5% | +53 | +1.3pp |
| New Zealand | 76 | 1.9% | 2.5% | 76 | 2.0% | 3.0% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| Pakistan | 64 | 1.6% | 1.4% | - | - | - | - | - |
| England | 47 | 1.2% | 2.0% | 36 | 0.9% | 1.6% | +11 | +0.3pp |
| India | 25 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +21 | +0.5pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 16 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 10 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Papua New Guinea | 14 | 0.4% | 0.1% | - | - | - | - | - |
| Philippines | 12 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 17 | 0.4% | 0.4% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Netherlands | 11 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 16 | 0.4% | 0.5% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Fiji | 10 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 10 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.