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, 25.2% (6,894) of people in Ferntree Gully were born overseas, compared with 33% in Knox (C). A further 71.6% (19,580) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Ferntree Gully - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Ferntree Gully in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Ferntree Gully, with comparison markers for Knox (C).

Ferntree Gully
Knox (C)

England

2021 count

1,033

% of total

3.8%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Not stated

2021 count

884

% of total

3.2%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)

2021 count

728

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

India

2021 count

632

% of total

2.3%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Sri Lanka

2021 count

414

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Malaysia

2021 count

361

% of total

1.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

New Zealand

2021 count

326

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Philippines

2021 count

226

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

South Africa

2021 count

192

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Germany

2021 count

191

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Data table

Birthplace for Ferntree Gully. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).

Birthplace for Ferntree Gully. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
Birthplace for Ferntree Gully. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Knox (C)%Count%Knox (C)%Countpp
England1,0333.8%3.1%1,1624.4%3.7%-129-0.6pp
Not stated8843.2%3.0%1,1624.4%4.3%-278-1.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)7282.7%5.3%4881.8%3.9%+240+0.9pp
India6322.3%3.2%3901.5%2.6%+242+0.8pp
Sri Lanka4141.5%2.4%3101.2%2.1%+104+0.3pp
Malaysia3611.3%2.5%2881.1%2.1%+73+0.2pp
New Zealand3261.2%1.2%3701.4%1.3%-44-0.2pp
Philippines2260.8%1.0%2180.8%0.9%+80.0pp
South Africa1920.7%0.7%1830.7%0.7%+90.0pp
Germany1910.7%0.7%2190.8%0.7%-28-0.1pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.