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, 30.1% (27,490) of people in Hobsons Bay (C) were born overseas, compared with 35.7% in Greater Melbourne. A further 65.5% (59,758) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Hobsons Bay (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Hobsons Bay (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Not stated

-1,469

-1.8pp

England

+108

0.0pp

India

-75

-0.2pp

New Zealand

-32

-0.1pp

Vietnam

+70

0.0pp

Italy

-170

-0.3pp

Philippines

+96

0.0pp

Malta

-110

-0.1pp

Greece

-30

-0.1pp

Lebanon

-48

-0.1pp

Data table

Birthplace for Hobsons Bay (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Birthplace for Hobsons Bay (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Birthplace for Hobsons Bay (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
Not stated4,0354.4%4.4%5,5046.2%6.3%-1,469-1.8pp
England3,1013.4%2.7%2,9933.4%3.0%+1080.0pp
India2,4942.7%4.9%2,5692.9%3.6%-75-0.2pp
New Zealand1,9192.1%1.7%1,9512.2%1.8%-32-0.1pp
Vietnam1,4871.6%1.8%1,4171.6%1.8%+700.0pp
Italy1,3101.4%1.2%1,4801.7%1.4%-170-0.3pp
Philippines1,1231.2%1.2%1,0271.2%1.0%+960.0pp
Malta1,0551.2%0.3%1,1651.3%0.4%-110-0.1pp
Greece1,0371.1%0.9%1,0671.2%1.0%-30-0.1pp
Lebanon9541.0%0.4%1,0021.1%0.4%-48-0.1pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.