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).
Iraq
2021 count
2,348
% of total
28.5%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
2,348
28.5%
+3.4pp
Vietnam
2021 count
731
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
731
8.9%
-0.1pp
Syria
2021 count
691
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
+5.5pp
691
8.4%
+5.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
435
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
435
5.3%
-0.6pp
Cambodia
2021 count
242
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
242
2.9%
-0.3pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
135
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
135
1.6%
-0.3pp
Lebanon
2021 count
104
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
104
1.3%
+0.1pp
Italy
2021 count
102
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
102
1.2%
-0.5pp
Philippines
2021 count
89
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
89
1.1%
0.0pp
New Zealand
2021 count
87
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
87
1.1%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Iraq
+466
+3.4pp
Vietnam
+60
-0.1pp
Syria
+477
+5.5pp
Not stated
-6
-0.6pp
Cambodia
+6
-0.3pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-7
-0.3pp
Lebanon
+12
+0.1pp
Italy
-26
-0.5pp
Philippines
+8
0.0pp
New Zealand
-2
-0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Fairfield Heights. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Iraq | 2,348 | 28.5% | 12.0% | 1,882 | 25.1% | 9.4% | +466 | +3.4pp |
| Vietnam | 731 | 8.9% | 16.3% | 671 | 9.0% | 15.5% | +60 | -0.1pp |
| Syria | 691 | 8.4% | 2.8% | 214 | 2.9% | 1.2% | +477 | +5.5pp |
| Not stated | 435 | 5.3% | 5.5% | 441 | 5.9% | 5.5% | -6 | -0.6pp |
| Cambodia | 242 | 2.9% | 3.6% | 236 | 3.2% | 3.7% | +6 | -0.3pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 135 | 1.6% | 1.8% | 142 | 1.9% | 2.0% | -7 | -0.3pp |
| Lebanon | 104 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 92 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +12 | +0.1pp |
| Italy | 102 | 1.2% | 1.5% | 128 | 1.7% | 1.7% | -26 | -0.5pp |
| Philippines | 89 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 81 | 1.1% | 1.2% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| New Zealand | 87 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 89 | 1.2% | 1.4% | -2 | -0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.