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, 33.4% (60,988) of people in Inner West (A) were born overseas, compared with 38.6% in Greater Sydney. A further 62.6% (114,365) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Inner West (A) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Inner West (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Inner West (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
England
2021 count
8,336
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
8,336
4.6%
+0.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
7,455
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
7,455
4.1%
-3.5pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
5,556
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
5,556
3.0%
-0.5pp
New Zealand
2021 count
3,869
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,869
2.1%
-0.2pp
Vietnam
2021 count
3,137
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
3,137
1.7%
-0.1pp
Italy
2021 count
2,794
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,794
1.5%
-0.3pp
Greece
2021 count
2,428
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,428
1.3%
-0.2pp
Philippines
2021 count
2,082
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,082
1.1%
0.0pp
Nepal
2021 count
1,964
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,964
1.1%
-0.2pp
India
2021 count
1,937
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,937
1.1%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
England
+331
+0.2pp
Not stated
-6,461
-3.5pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-819
-0.5pp
New Zealand
-290
-0.2pp
Vietnam
-64
-0.1pp
Italy
-432
-0.3pp
Greece
-265
-0.2pp
Philippines
+11
0.0pp
Nepal
-382
-0.2pp
India
-398
-0.2pp
Data table
Birthplace for Inner West (A). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| England | 8,336 | 4.6% | 2.9% | 8,005 | 4.4% | 3.1% | +331 | +0.2pp |
| Not stated | 7,455 | 4.1% | 4.6% | 13,916 | 7.6% | 6.2% | -6,461 | -3.5pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 5,556 | 3.0% | 4.6% | 6,375 | 3.5% | 4.7% | -819 | -0.5pp |
| New Zealand | 3,869 | 2.1% | 1.6% | 4,159 | 2.3% | 1.8% | -290 | -0.2pp |
| Vietnam | 3,137 | 1.7% | 1.8% | 3,201 | 1.8% | 1.7% | -64 | -0.1pp |
| Italy | 2,794 | 1.5% | 0.7% | 3,226 | 1.8% | 0.8% | -432 | -0.3pp |
| Greece | 2,428 | 1.3% | 0.5% | 2,693 | 1.5% | 0.6% | -265 | -0.2pp |
| Philippines | 2,082 | 1.1% | 1.7% | 2,071 | 1.1% | 1.6% | +11 | 0.0pp |
| Nepal | 1,964 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2,346 | 1.3% | 0.6% | -382 | -0.2pp |
| India | 1,937 | 1.1% | 3.6% | 2,335 | 1.3% | 2.7% | -398 | -0.2pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.