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, 65.1% (5,359) of people in Fairfield Heights were born overseas, compared with 55.9% in Fairfield (C). A further 29.6% (2,439) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Fairfield Heights - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Fairfield Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Fairfield Heights, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).

Fairfield Heights
Fairfield (C)

Iraq

2021 count

2,348

% of total

28.5%

Change from 2016

-

Vietnam

2021 count

731

% of total

8.9%

Change from 2016

+8.8pp

Syria

2021 count

691

% of total

8.4%

Change from 2016

-

Not stated

2021 count

435

% of total

5.3%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Cambodia

2021 count

242

% of total

2.9%

Change from 2016

-

China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)

2021 count

135

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

Lebanon

2021 count

104

% of total

1.3%

Change from 2016

-

Italy

2021 count

102

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

Philippines

2021 count

89

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

New Zealand

2021 count

87

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

-1.7pp

Data table

Birthplace for Fairfield Heights. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).

Birthplace for Fairfield Heights. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Birthplace for Fairfield Heights. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Fairfield (C)%Count%Fairfield (C)%Countpp
Iraq2,34828.5%12.0%--9.4%--
Vietnam7318.9%16.3%50.1%15.5%+726+8.8pp
Syria6918.4%2.8%--1.2%--
Not stated4355.3%5.5%3005.2%5.5%+135+0.1pp
Cambodia2422.9%3.6%--3.7%--
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)1351.6%1.8%260.4%2.0%+109+1.2pp
Lebanon1041.3%1.3%--1.2%--
Italy1021.2%1.5%290.5%1.7%+73+0.7pp
Philippines891.1%1.1%180.3%1.2%+71+0.8pp
New Zealand871.1%1.0%1642.8%1.4%-77-1.7pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.