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, 52% (6,848) of people in Smithfield (NSW) (part) were born overseas, compared with 55.9% in Fairfield (C). A further 42.4% (5,585) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Smithfield (NSW) (part) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Smithfield (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 Smithfield (NSW) (part), with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Iraq
2021 count
2,376
% of total
18.1%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
2,376
18.1%
+4.1pp
Vietnam
2021 count
902
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
902
6.9%
+0.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
725
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
725
5.5%
-1.0pp
Syria
2021 count
628
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
628
4.8%
+3.1pp
Italy
2021 count
307
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
307
2.3%
-1.0pp
Lebanon
2021 count
285
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
285
2.2%
+0.1pp
Cambodia
2021 count
186
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
186
1.4%
-0.1pp
New Zealand
2021 count
152
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
152
1.2%
-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
131
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
131
1.0%
0.0pp
Malta
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
+705
+4.1pp
Vietnam
+183
+0.9pp
Not stated
-45
-1.0pp
Syria
+428
+3.1pp
Italy
-87
-1.0pp
Lebanon
+36
+0.1pp
Cambodia
+12
-0.1pp
New Zealand
-6
-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+6
0.0pp
Malta
-16
-0.2pp
Data table
Birthplace for Smithfield (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 | 2,376 | 18.1% | 12.0% | 1,671 | 14.0% | 9.4% | +705 | +4.1pp |
| Vietnam | 902 | 6.9% | 16.3% | 719 | 6.0% | 15.5% | +183 | +0.9pp |
| Not stated | 725 | 5.5% | 5.5% | 770 | 6.5% | 5.5% | -45 | -1.0pp |
| Syria | 628 | 4.8% | 2.8% | 200 | 1.7% | 1.2% | +428 | +3.1pp |
| Italy | 307 | 2.3% | 1.5% | 394 | 3.3% | 1.7% | -87 | -1.0pp |
| Lebanon | 285 | 2.2% | 1.3% | 249 | 2.1% | 1.2% | +36 | +0.1pp |
| Cambodia | 186 | 1.4% | 3.6% | 174 | 1.5% | 3.7% | +12 | -0.1pp |
| New Zealand | 152 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 158 | 1.3% | 1.4% | -6 | -0.1pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 131 | 1.0% | 1.8% | 125 | 1.0% | 2.0% | +6 | 0.0pp |
| Malta | 114 | 0.9% | 0.4% | 130 | 1.1% | 0.5% | -16 | -0.2pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.