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, 58.2% (92,004) of people in Greater Dandenong (C) were born overseas, compared with 35.7% in Greater Melbourne. A further 36.6% (57,952) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Greater Dandenong (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Greater Dandenong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Dandenong (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Vietnam
2021 count
14,693
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
14,693
9.3%
+0.6pp
India
2021 count
11,898
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
11,898
7.5%
-0.7pp
Cambodia
2021 count
8,671
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
8,671
5.5%
+1.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
8,242
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
8,242
5.2%
-1.3pp
Sri Lanka
2021 count
6,287
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
6,287
4.0%
-0.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
4,887
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
4,887
3.1%
+0.1pp
Afghanistan
2021 count
4,820
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
4,820
3.0%
-0.2pp
Malaysia
2021 count
3,407
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
3,407
2.2%
+1.3pp
Philippines
2021 count
2,662
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
2,662
1.7%
+0.3pp
Pakistan
2021 count
2,388
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,388
1.5%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnam
+1,409
+0.6pp
India
-515
-0.7pp
Cambodia
+1,806
+1.0pp
Not stated
-1,569
-1.3pp
Sri Lanka
-79
-0.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+283
+0.1pp
Afghanistan
+16
-0.2pp
Malaysia
+1,965
+1.3pp
Philippines
+567
+0.3pp
Pakistan
+280
+0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Greater Dandenong (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Vietnam | 14,693 | 9.3% | 1.8% | 13,284 | 8.7% | 1.8% | +1,409 | +0.6pp |
| India | 11,898 | 7.5% | 4.9% | 12,413 | 8.2% | 3.6% | -515 | -0.7pp |
| Cambodia | 8,671 | 5.5% | 0.3% | 6,865 | 4.5% | 0.3% | +1,806 | +1.0pp |
| Not stated | 8,242 | 5.2% | 4.4% | 9,811 | 6.5% | 6.3% | -1,569 | -1.3pp |
| Sri Lanka | 6,287 | 4.0% | 1.3% | 6,366 | 4.2% | 1.2% | -79 | -0.2pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 4,887 | 3.1% | 3.4% | 4,604 | 3.0% | 3.5% | +283 | +0.1pp |
| Afghanistan | 4,820 | 3.0% | 0.5% | 4,804 | 3.2% | 0.4% | +16 | -0.2pp |
| Malaysia | 3,407 | 2.2% | 1.2% | 1,442 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +1,965 | +1.3pp |
| Philippines | 2,662 | 1.7% | 1.2% | 2,095 | 1.4% | 1.0% | +567 | +0.3pp |
| Pakistan | 2,388 | 1.5% | 0.6% | 2,108 | 1.4% | 0.4% | +280 | +0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.