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, 9.4% (999) of people in Thornton (NSW) were born overseas, compared with 9.1% in Maitland (C). A further 88.4% (9,414) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Thornton (NSW) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Thornton (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Thornton (NSW), with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
Not stated
2021 count
239
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
239
2.2%
-0.7pp
England
2021 count
191
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
191
1.8%
-0.3pp
New Zealand
2021 count
117
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
117
1.1%
+0.3pp
India
2021 count
87
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
87
0.8%
+0.4pp
Philippines
2021 count
59
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
59
0.6%
0.0pp
South Africa
2021 count
59
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
59
0.6%
+0.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
33
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
33
0.3%
+0.1pp
Zimbabwe
2021 count
29
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
29
0.3%
+0.1pp
Taiwan
2021 count
27
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
27
0.3%
+0.2pp
Scotland
2021 count
25
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
25
0.2%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
+2
-0.7pp
England
+21
-0.3pp
New Zealand
+54
+0.3pp
India
+58
+0.4pp
Philippines
+13
0.0pp
South Africa
+30
+0.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+16
+0.1pp
Zimbabwe
+16
+0.1pp
Taiwan
+22
+0.2pp
Scotland
-2
-0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Thornton (NSW). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 239 | 2.2% | 3.9% | 237 | 2.9% | 5.4% | +2 | -0.7pp |
| England | 191 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 170 | 2.1% | 1.8% | +21 | -0.3pp |
| New Zealand | 117 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 63 | 0.8% | 1.0% | +54 | +0.3pp |
| India | 87 | 0.8% | 0.9% | 29 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +58 | +0.4pp |
| Philippines | 59 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 46 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +13 | 0.0pp |
| South Africa | 59 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 29 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +30 | +0.2pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 33 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 17 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +16 | +0.1pp |
| Zimbabwe | 29 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 13 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +16 | +0.1pp |
| Taiwan | 27 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 5 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +22 | +0.2pp |
| Scotland | 25 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 27 | 0.3% | 0.3% | -2 | -0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.