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, 35% (11,749) of people in Rowville were born overseas, compared with 33% in Knox (C). A further 62.9% (21,120) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Rowville - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Rowville in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rowville, with comparison markers for Knox (C).
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
1,601
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
1,601
4.8%
+1.2pp
Sri Lanka
2021 count
1,180
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,180
3.5%
+0.4pp
India
2021 count
1,072
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,072
3.2%
+0.5pp
England
2021 count
902
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
902
2.7%
-0.3pp
Malaysia
2021 count
821
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
821
2.4%
+0.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
688
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
688
2.1%
-1.4pp
New Zealand
2021 count
391
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
391
1.2%
0.0pp
Vietnam
2021 count
352
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
352
1.0%
0.0pp
Italy
2021 count
342
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
342
1.0%
0.0pp
Philippines
2021 count
310
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
310
0.9%
0.0pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+376
+1.2pp
Sri Lanka
+132
+0.4pp
India
+179
+0.5pp
England
-114
-0.3pp
Malaysia
+50
+0.1pp
Not stated
-474
-1.4pp
New Zealand
-8
0.0pp
Vietnam
+11
0.0pp
Italy
+4
0.0pp
Philippines
-4
0.0pp
Data table
Birthplace for Rowville. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | pp | |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 1,601 | 4.8% | 5.3% | 1,225 | 3.6% | 3.9% | +376 | +1.2pp |
| Sri Lanka | 1,180 | 3.5% | 2.4% | 1,048 | 3.1% | 2.1% | +132 | +0.4pp |
| India | 1,072 | 3.2% | 3.2% | 893 | 2.7% | 2.6% | +179 | +0.5pp |
| England | 902 | 2.7% | 3.1% | 1,016 | 3.0% | 3.7% | -114 | -0.3pp |
| Malaysia | 821 | 2.4% | 2.5% | 771 | 2.3% | 2.1% | +50 | +0.1pp |
| Not stated | 688 | 2.1% | 3.0% | 1,162 | 3.5% | 4.3% | -474 | -1.4pp |
| New Zealand | 391 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 399 | 1.2% | 1.3% | -8 | 0.0pp |
| Vietnam | 352 | 1.0% | 0.9% | 341 | 1.0% | 0.8% | +11 | 0.0pp |
| Italy | 342 | 1.0% | 0.7% | 338 | 1.0% | 0.7% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Philippines | 310 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 314 | 0.9% | 0.9% | -4 | 0.0pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.