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, 4.2% (387) of people in Forbes (A) were born overseas, compared with 12.2% in Regional NSW. A further 86.7% (8,068) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Forbes (A) - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Forbes (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Forbes (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Forbes (A)
Regional NSW

Not stated

2021 count

848

% of total

9.1%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

England

2021 count

83

% of total

0.9%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

New Zealand

2021 count

48

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

India

2021 count

34

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Philippines

2021 count

31

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)

2021 count

17

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

South Africa

2021 count

16

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Germany

2021 count

15

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Italy

2021 count

14

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Scotland

2021 count

12

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Data table

Birthplace for Forbes (A). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Birthplace for Forbes (A). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Birthplace for Forbes (A). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Not stated8489.1%6.5%98410.3%7.9%-136-1.2pp
England830.9%2.8%900.9%2.8%-70.0pp
New Zealand480.5%1.2%500.5%1.1%-20.0pp
India340.4%0.7%190.2%0.5%+15+0.2pp
Philippines310.3%0.5%340.4%0.4%-3-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)170.2%0.3%150.2%0.4%+20.0pp
South Africa160.2%0.4%140.1%0.3%+2+0.1pp
Germany150.2%0.4%120.1%0.4%+3+0.1pp
Italy140.2%0.3%230.2%0.3%-90.0pp
Scotland120.1%0.4%160.2%0.4%-4-0.1pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.