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, 8.6% (587) of people in Dorset (M) were born overseas, compared with 12.5% in Regional Tas.. A further 82.9% (5,648) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Dorset (M) - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Dorset (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Not stated

-35

-0.8pp

England

-14

-0.3pp

New Zealand

+5

0.0pp

Netherlands

-8

-0.1pp

Scotland

+5

+0.1pp

Pakistan

+24

+0.4pp

Germany

-3

0.0pp

United States of America

+3

0.0pp

Philippines

+3

0.0pp

China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)

+7

+0.1pp

Data table

Birthplace for Dorset (M). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..

Birthplace for Dorset (M). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
Birthplace for Dorset (M). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Tas.%Count%Regional Tas.%Countpp
Not stated5788.5%6.4%6139.3%8.0%-35-0.8pp
England1842.7%3.6%1983.0%3.8%-14-0.3pp
New Zealand901.3%1.1%851.3%1.0%+50.0pp
Netherlands310.5%0.4%390.6%0.5%-8-0.1pp
Scotland280.4%0.4%230.3%0.4%+5+0.1pp
Pakistan270.4%0.2%30.0%0.0%+24+0.4pp
Germany260.4%0.3%290.4%0.4%-30.0pp
United States of America220.3%0.3%190.3%0.3%+30.0pp
Philippines160.2%0.4%130.2%0.3%+30.0pp
India160.2%0.7%--0.3%--

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.