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, 56% (116,667) of people in Fairfield (C) were born overseas, compared with 38.6% in Greater Sydney. A further 38.6% (80,400) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Fairfield (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Fairfield (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Vietnam
2021 count
34,072
% of total
16.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
34,072
16.3%
+0.8pp
Iraq
2021 count
24,983
% of total
12.0%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
24,983
12.0%
+2.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
11,417
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
11,417
5.5%
0.0pp
Cambodia
2021 count
7,507
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
7,507
3.6%
-0.1pp
Syria
2021 count
5,768
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
5,768
2.8%
+1.6pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
3,846
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,846
1.8%
-0.2pp
Italy
2021 count
3,041
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,041
1.5%
-0.2pp
Lebanon
2021 count
2,717
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,717
1.3%
+0.1pp
Philippines
2021 count
2,385
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,385
1.1%
-0.1pp
New Zealand
2021 count
2,185
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
2,185
1.0%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnam
+3,271
+0.8pp
Iraq
+6,232
+2.6pp
Not stated
+527
0.0pp
Cambodia
+125
-0.1pp
Syria
+3,328
+1.6pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-201
-0.2pp
Italy
-434
-0.2pp
Lebanon
+250
+0.1pp
Philippines
+3
-0.1pp
New Zealand
-622
-0.4pp
Data table
Birthplace for Fairfield (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Vietnam | 34,072 | 16.3% | 1.8% | 30,801 | 15.5% | 1.7% | +3,271 | +0.8pp |
| Iraq | 24,983 | 12.0% | 1.0% | 18,751 | 9.4% | 0.8% | +6,232 | +2.6pp |
| Not stated | 11,417 | 5.5% | 4.6% | 10,890 | 5.5% | 6.2% | +527 | 0.0pp |
| Cambodia | 7,507 | 3.6% | 0.3% | 7,382 | 3.7% | 0.2% | +125 | -0.1pp |
| Syria | 5,768 | 2.8% | 0.3% | 2,440 | 1.2% | 0.2% | +3,328 | +1.6pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 3,846 | 1.8% | 4.6% | 4,047 | 2.0% | 4.7% | -201 | -0.2pp |
| Italy | 3,041 | 1.5% | 0.7% | 3,475 | 1.7% | 0.8% | -434 | -0.2pp |
| Lebanon | 2,717 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 2,467 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +250 | +0.1pp |
| Philippines | 2,385 | 1.1% | 1.7% | 2,382 | 1.2% | 1.6% | +3 | -0.1pp |
| New Zealand | 2,185 | 1.0% | 1.6% | 2,807 | 1.4% | 1.8% | -622 | -0.4pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.