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, 32.3% (1,312) of people in Lewisham (NSW) were born overseas, compared with 33.3% in Inner West (A). A further 62.1% (2,522) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Lewisham (NSW) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Lewisham (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lewisham (NSW), with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
Not stated
2021 count
226
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
226
5.6%
-1.8pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
168
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
168
4.1%
+2.0pp
England
2021 count
149
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
149
3.7%
-0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
89
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
89
2.2%
+0.6pp
Italy
2021 count
67
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
67
1.7%
+0.5pp
Vietnam
2021 count
49
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
49
1.2%
+0.5pp
Philippines
2021 count
49
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
49
1.2%
+0.4pp
Portugal
2021 count
45
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
45
1.1%
-0.5pp
India
2021 count
44
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
44
1.1%
+0.5pp
Ireland
2021 count
43
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
43
1.1%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-5
-1.8pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+101
+2.0pp
England
+26
-0.2pp
New Zealand
+40
+0.6pp
Italy
+30
+0.5pp
Vietnam
+26
+0.5pp
Philippines
+23
+0.4pp
Portugal
-5
-0.5pp
India
+26
+0.5pp
Ireland
+28
+0.6pp
Data table
Birthplace for Lewisham (NSW). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Inner West (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 226 | 5.6% | 4.1% | 231 | 7.4% | 7.6% | -5 | -1.8pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 168 | 4.1% | 3.0% | 67 | 2.1% | 3.5% | +101 | +2.0pp |
| England | 149 | 3.7% | 4.6% | 123 | 3.9% | 4.4% | +26 | -0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 89 | 2.2% | 2.1% | 49 | 1.6% | 2.3% | +40 | +0.6pp |
| Italy | 67 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 37 | 1.2% | 1.8% | +30 | +0.5pp |
| Vietnam | 49 | 1.2% | 1.7% | 23 | 0.7% | 1.8% | +26 | +0.5pp |
| Philippines | 49 | 1.2% | 1.1% | 26 | 0.8% | 1.1% | +23 | +0.4pp |
| Portugal | 45 | 1.1% | 0.6% | 50 | 1.6% | 0.7% | -5 | -0.5pp |
| India | 44 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 18 | 0.6% | 1.3% | +26 | +0.5pp |
| Ireland | 43 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 15 | 0.5% | 0.7% | +28 | +0.6pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.