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, 65.5% (12,179) of people in Fairfield (NSW) (part) were born overseas, compared with 55.9% in Fairfield (C). A further 27.8% (5,172) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Fairfield (NSW) (part) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Fairfield (NSW) (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield (NSW) (part), with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Iraq
2021 count
4,200
% of total
22.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
4,200
22.6%
+0.4pp
Vietnam
2021 count
1,827
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
1,827
9.8%
+0.8pp
Syria
2021 count
1,535
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
1,535
8.3%
+4.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,252
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
1,252
6.7%
+0.9pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
509
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
509
2.7%
-0.1pp
Cambodia
2021 count
394
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
394
2.1%
-0.1pp
Philippines
2021 count
304
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
304
1.6%
-0.1pp
Lebanon
2021 count
275
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
275
1.5%
+0.2pp
Iran
2021 count
186
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
186
1.0%
-1.1pp
New Zealand
2021 count
167
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
167
0.9%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Iraq
+182
+0.4pp
Vietnam
+201
+0.8pp
Syria
+864
+4.6pp
Not stated
+212
+0.9pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-2
-0.1pp
Cambodia
-10
-0.1pp
Philippines
0
-0.1pp
Lebanon
+41
+0.2pp
Iran
-202
-1.1pp
New Zealand
-107
-0.6pp
Data table
Birthplace for Fairfield (NSW) (part). 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 | 4,200 | 22.6% | 12.0% | 4,018 | 22.2% | 9.4% | +182 | +0.4pp |
| Vietnam | 1,827 | 9.8% | 16.3% | 1,626 | 9.0% | 15.5% | +201 | +0.8pp |
| Syria | 1,535 | 8.3% | 2.8% | 671 | 3.7% | 1.2% | +864 | +4.6pp |
| Not stated | 1,252 | 6.7% | 5.5% | 1,040 | 5.8% | 5.5% | +212 | +0.9pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 509 | 2.7% | 1.8% | 511 | 2.8% | 2.0% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Cambodia | 394 | 2.1% | 3.6% | 404 | 2.2% | 3.7% | -10 | -0.1pp |
| Philippines | 304 | 1.6% | 1.1% | 304 | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| Lebanon | 275 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 234 | 1.3% | 1.2% | +41 | +0.2pp |
| Iran | 186 | 1.0% | 0.6% | 388 | 2.1% | 0.8% | -202 | -1.1pp |
| New Zealand | 167 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 274 | 1.5% | 1.4% | -107 | -0.6pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.