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, 54.7% (81,877) of people in Melbourne (C) were born overseas, compared with 35.7% in Greater Melbourne. A further 38% (56,834) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Melbourne (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Melbourne (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melbourne (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
16,777
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
16,777
11.2%
-4.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
10,849
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
10,849
7.3%
-4.3pp
India
2021 count
10,036
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
10,036
6.7%
+2.2pp
Malaysia
2021 count
6,059
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
6,059
4.1%
-0.8pp
England
2021 count
3,497
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3,497
2.3%
0.0pp
Indonesia
2021 count
3,284
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,284
2.2%
-0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
3,191
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3,191
2.1%
0.0pp
Vietnam
2021 count
2,892
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
2,892
1.9%
+0.5pp
Colombia
2021 count
2,533
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
2,533
1.7%
+0.9pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
2021 count
2,424
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
2,424
1.6%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-4,641
-4.6pp
Not stated
-4,875
-4.3pp
India
+3,962
+2.2pp
Malaysia
-564
-0.8pp
England
+356
0.0pp
Indonesia
+1
-0.2pp
New Zealand
+345
0.0pp
Vietnam
+998
+0.5pp
Colombia
+1,494
+0.9pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
-694
-0.7pp
Data table
Birthplace for Melbourne (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 16,777 | 11.2% | 3.4% | 21,418 | 15.8% | 3.5% | -4,641 | -4.6pp |
| Not stated | 10,849 | 7.3% | 4.4% | 15,724 | 11.6% | 6.3% | -4,875 | -4.3pp |
| India | 10,036 | 6.7% | 4.9% | 6,074 | 4.5% | 3.6% | +3,962 | +2.2pp |
| Malaysia | 6,059 | 4.1% | 1.2% | 6,623 | 4.9% | 1.1% | -564 | -0.8pp |
| England | 3,497 | 2.3% | 2.7% | 3,141 | 2.3% | 3.0% | +356 | 0.0pp |
| Indonesia | 3,284 | 2.2% | 0.4% | 3,283 | 2.4% | 0.4% | +1 | -0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 3,191 | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2,846 | 2.1% | 1.8% | +345 | 0.0pp |
| Vietnam | 2,892 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1,894 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +998 | +0.5pp |
| Colombia | 2,533 | 1.7% | 0.2% | 1,039 | 0.8% | 0.1% | +1,494 | +0.9pp |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 2,424 | 1.6% | 0.3% | 3,118 | 2.3% | 0.3% | -694 | -0.7pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.