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, 55.9% (7,217) of people in Fairfield West were born overseas, compared with 55.9% in Fairfield (C). A further 38.3% (4,949) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Fairfield West - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Fairfield West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield West, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Iraq
2021 count
2,342
% of total
18.1%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
2,342
18.1%
+4.5pp
Vietnam
2021 count
1,649
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,649
12.8%
-0.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
750
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
750
5.8%
+0.2pp
Syria
2021 count
611
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
611
4.7%
+3.3pp
Cambodia
2021 count
378
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
378
2.9%
-0.5pp
Lebanon
2021 count
163
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
163
1.3%
+0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
139
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
139
1.1%
-0.3pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
127
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
127
1.0%
-0.3pp
Italy
2021 count
115
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
115
0.9%
-0.3pp
Chile
2021 count
114
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
114
0.9%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Iraq
+771
+4.5pp
Vietnam
+165
-0.1pp
Not stated
+108
+0.2pp
Syria
+448
+3.3pp
Cambodia
-11
-0.5pp
Lebanon
+37
+0.2pp
New Zealand
-25
-0.3pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-18
-0.3pp
Italy
-26
-0.3pp
Chile
-10
-0.2pp
Data table
Birthplace for Fairfield West. 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 | 2,342 | 18.1% | 12.0% | 1,571 | 13.6% | 9.4% | +771 | +4.5pp |
| Vietnam | 1,649 | 12.8% | 16.3% | 1,484 | 12.9% | 15.5% | +165 | -0.1pp |
| Not stated | 750 | 5.8% | 5.5% | 642 | 5.6% | 5.5% | +108 | +0.2pp |
| Syria | 611 | 4.7% | 2.8% | 163 | 1.4% | 1.2% | +448 | +3.3pp |
| Cambodia | 378 | 2.9% | 3.6% | 389 | 3.4% | 3.7% | -11 | -0.5pp |
| Lebanon | 163 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 126 | 1.1% | 1.2% | +37 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 139 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 164 | 1.4% | 1.4% | -25 | -0.3pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 127 | 1.0% | 1.8% | 145 | 1.3% | 2.0% | -18 | -0.3pp |
| Italy | 115 | 0.9% | 1.5% | 141 | 1.2% | 1.7% | -26 | -0.3pp |
| Chile | 114 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 124 | 1.1% | 0.8% | -10 | -0.2pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.