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, 11.9% (14,426) of people in Mackay (R) were born overseas, compared with 18.4% in Regional Qld. A further 79% (96,036) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Mackay (R) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Mackay (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mackay (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Not stated
2021 count
11,169
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
11,169
9.2%
+0.6pp
New Zealand
2021 count
2,847
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,847
2.3%
-0.2pp
England
2021 count
2,199
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,199
1.8%
-0.1pp
Philippines
2021 count
1,946
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,946
1.6%
+0.2pp
South Africa
2021 count
1,275
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,275
1.0%
0.0pp
India
2021 count
698
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
698
0.6%
+0.1pp
Zimbabwe
2021 count
395
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
395
0.3%
0.0pp
Germany
2021 count
300
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
300
0.2%
-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
290
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
290
0.2%
0.0pp
Malta
2021 count
272
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
272
0.2%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
+1,277
+0.6pp
New Zealand
-36
-0.2pp
England
-22
-0.1pp
Philippines
+343
+0.2pp
South Africa
+165
0.0pp
India
+115
+0.1pp
Zimbabwe
+25
0.0pp
Germany
-8
-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+57
0.0pp
Malta
-32
-0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Mackay (R). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 11,169 | 9.2% | 7.3% | 9,892 | 8.6% | 8.4% | +1,277 | +0.6pp |
| New Zealand | 2,847 | 2.3% | 3.7% | 2,883 | 2.5% | 3.9% | -36 | -0.2pp |
| England | 2,199 | 1.8% | 3.7% | 2,221 | 1.9% | 3.7% | -22 | -0.1pp |
| Philippines | 1,946 | 1.6% | 0.9% | 1,603 | 1.4% | 0.8% | +343 | +0.2pp |
| South Africa | 1,275 | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1,110 | 1.0% | 0.7% | +165 | 0.0pp |
| India | 698 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 583 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +115 | +0.1pp |
| Zimbabwe | 395 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 370 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +25 | 0.0pp |
| Germany | 300 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 308 | 0.3% | 0.5% | -8 | -0.1pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 290 | 0.2% | 0.5% | 233 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +57 | 0.0pp |
| Malta | 272 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 304 | 0.3% | 0.1% | -32 | -0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.