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, 31.4% (46,646) of people in Darebin (C) were born overseas, compared with 35.7% in Greater Melbourne. A further 64.4% (95,641) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Darebin (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Darebin (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Darebin (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Not stated
2021 count
6,245
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
6,245
4.2%
-3.3pp
Italy
2021 count
5,220
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
5,220
3.5%
-0.7pp
Greece
2021 count
4,240
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
4,240
2.9%
-0.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
3,868
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
3,868
2.6%
-0.7pp
India
2021 count
3,726
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
3,726
2.5%
-0.6pp
England
2021 count
3,296
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
3,296
2.2%
+0.3pp
Vietnam
2021 count
2,517
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,517
1.7%
-0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
2,488
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
2,488
1.7%
+0.2pp
Lebanon
2021 count
1,166
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,166
0.8%
0.0pp
North Macedonia
2021 count
1,153
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,153
0.8%
0.0pp
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-4,719
-3.3pp
Italy
-912
-0.7pp
Greece
-312
-0.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-948
-0.7pp
India
-839
-0.6pp
England
+481
+0.3pp
Vietnam
-279
-0.2pp
New Zealand
+295
+0.2pp
Lebanon
-5
0.0pp
North Macedonia
+5
0.0pp
Data table
Birthplace for Darebin (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 6,245 | 4.2% | 4.4% | 10,964 | 7.5% | 6.3% | -4,719 | -3.3pp |
| Italy | 5,220 | 3.5% | 1.2% | 6,132 | 4.2% | 1.4% | -912 | -0.7pp |
| Greece | 4,240 | 2.9% | 0.9% | 4,552 | 3.1% | 1.0% | -312 | -0.2pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 3,868 | 2.6% | 3.4% | 4,816 | 3.3% | 3.5% | -948 | -0.7pp |
| India | 3,726 | 2.5% | 4.9% | 4,565 | 3.1% | 3.6% | -839 | -0.6pp |
| England | 3,296 | 2.2% | 2.7% | 2,815 | 1.9% | 3.0% | +481 | +0.3pp |
| Vietnam | 2,517 | 1.7% | 1.8% | 2,796 | 1.9% | 1.8% | -279 | -0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 2,488 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 2,193 | 1.5% | 1.8% | +295 | +0.2pp |
| Lebanon | 1,166 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1,171 | 0.8% | 0.4% | -5 | 0.0pp |
| North Macedonia | 1,153 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1,148 | 0.8% | 0.4% | +5 | 0.0pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.