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, 39.8% (97,175) of people in Hume (C) were born overseas, compared with 35.7% in Greater Melbourne. A further 55.1% (134,334) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Hume (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Hume (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hume (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
India
2021 count
16,441
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
16,441
6.7%
+2.3pp
Iraq
2021 count
15,476
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
15,476
6.3%
+0.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
12,348
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
12,348
5.1%
-1.5pp
Turkey
2021 count
7,337
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
7,337
3.0%
-0.1pp
Lebanon
2021 count
4,263
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
4,263
1.7%
-0.1pp
Pakistan
2021 count
3,886
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
3,886
1.6%
+0.5pp
Sri Lanka
2021 count
3,867
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3,867
1.6%
0.0pp
Syria
2021 count
3,836
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
3,836
1.6%
+0.9pp
New Zealand
2021 count
3,731
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,731
1.5%
-0.2pp
Philippines
2021 count
3,424
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,424
1.4%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
India
+7,821
+2.3pp
Iraq
+4,837
+0.9pp
Not stated
-658
-1.5pp
Turkey
+1,134
-0.1pp
Lebanon
+793
-0.1pp
Pakistan
+1,814
+0.5pp
Sri Lanka
+762
0.0pp
Syria
+2,377
+0.9pp
New Zealand
+386
-0.2pp
Philippines
+798
+0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Hume (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 | |
| India | 16,441 | 6.7% | 4.9% | 8,620 | 4.4% | 3.6% | +7,821 | +2.3pp |
| Iraq | 15,476 | 6.3% | 0.5% | 10,639 | 5.4% | 0.4% | +4,837 | +0.9pp |
| Not stated | 12,348 | 5.1% | 4.4% | 13,006 | 6.6% | 6.3% | -658 | -1.5pp |
| Turkey | 7,337 | 3.0% | 0.4% | 6,203 | 3.1% | 0.3% | +1,134 | -0.1pp |
| Lebanon | 4,263 | 1.7% | 0.4% | 3,470 | 1.8% | 0.4% | +793 | -0.1pp |
| Pakistan | 3,886 | 1.6% | 0.6% | 2,072 | 1.1% | 0.4% | +1,814 | +0.5pp |
| Sri Lanka | 3,867 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 3,105 | 1.6% | 1.2% | +762 | 0.0pp |
| Syria | 3,836 | 1.6% | 0.2% | 1,459 | 0.7% | 0.1% | +2,377 | +0.9pp |
| New Zealand | 3,731 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 3,345 | 1.7% | 1.8% | +386 | -0.2pp |
| Philippines | 3,424 | 1.4% | 1.2% | 2,626 | 1.3% | 1.0% | +798 | +0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.