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, 26.9% (1,307) of people in East Melbourne were born overseas, compared with 54.7% in Melbourne (C). A further 67.7% (3,291) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
East Melbourne - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for East Melbourne in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for East Melbourne, with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
Not stated
2021 count
262
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-6.2pp
262
5.4%
-6.2pp
England
2021 count
217
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
217
4.5%
+0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
144
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
144
3.0%
-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
97
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
97
2.0%
+0.6pp
United States of America
2021 count
67
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
67
1.4%
+0.3pp
Malaysia
2021 count
63
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
63
1.3%
-0.2pp
Italy
2021 count
45
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
45
0.9%
+0.3pp
Ireland
2021 count
40
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
40
0.8%
+0.3pp
Philippines
2021 count
34
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
34
0.7%
+0.4pp
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
2021 count
34
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
34
0.7%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-309
-6.2pp
England
+4
+0.2pp
New Zealand
-10
-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+29
+0.6pp
United States of America
+12
+0.3pp
Malaysia
-9
-0.2pp
Italy
+14
+0.3pp
Ireland
+14
+0.3pp
Philippines
+17
+0.4pp
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
+8
+0.2pp
Data table
Birthplace for East Melbourne. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 262 | 5.4% | 7.3% | 571 | 11.6% | 11.6% | -309 | -6.2pp |
| England | 217 | 4.5% | 2.3% | 213 | 4.3% | 2.3% | +4 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 144 | 3.0% | 2.1% | 154 | 3.1% | 2.1% | -10 | -0.1pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 97 | 2.0% | 11.2% | 68 | 1.4% | 15.8% | +29 | +0.6pp |
| United States of America | 67 | 1.4% | 0.9% | 55 | 1.1% | 0.8% | +12 | +0.3pp |
| Malaysia | 63 | 1.3% | 4.1% | 72 | 1.5% | 4.9% | -9 | -0.2pp |
| Italy | 45 | 0.9% | 0.8% | 31 | 0.6% | 0.9% | +14 | +0.3pp |
| Ireland | 40 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 26 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +14 | +0.3pp |
| Philippines | 34 | 0.7% | 1.5% | 17 | 0.3% | 0.8% | +17 | +0.4pp |
| Hong Kong (SAR of China) | 34 | 0.7% | 1.3% | 26 | 0.5% | 1.4% | +8 | +0.2pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.