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, 53.2% (4,253) of people in West Melbourne were born overseas, compared with 54.7% in Melbourne (C). A further 41.8% (3,337) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
West Melbourne - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for West Melbourne in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Melbourne, with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
India
Not stated
Malaysia
Colombia
England
Korea, Republic of (South)
New Zealand
Vietnam
Philippines
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+443
+3.2pp
India
+290
+2.1pp
Not stated
-171
-5.4pp
Malaysia
+52
-0.5pp
Colombia
+190
+2.1pp
England
+75
+0.3pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
-62
-2.2pp
New Zealand
+21
-0.5pp
Vietnam
+78
+0.7pp
Philippines
+79
+0.6pp
Data table
Birthplace for West 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 | |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 854 | 10.7% | 11.2% | 411 | 7.5% | 15.8% | +443 | +3.2pp |
| India | 555 | 6.9% | 6.7% | 265 | 4.8% | 4.5% | +290 | +2.1pp |
| Not stated | 397 | 5.0% | 7.3% | 568 | 10.4% | 11.6% | -171 | -5.4pp |
| Malaysia | 254 | 3.2% | 4.1% | 202 | 3.7% | 4.9% | +52 | -0.5pp |
| Colombia | 246 | 3.1% | 1.7% | 56 | 1.0% | 0.8% | +190 | +2.1pp |
| England | 196 | 2.5% | 2.3% | 121 | 2.2% | 2.3% | +75 | +0.3pp |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 190 | 2.4% | 1.6% | 252 | 4.6% | 2.3% | -62 | -2.2pp |
| New Zealand | 159 | 2.0% | 2.1% | 138 | 2.5% | 2.1% | +21 | -0.5pp |
| Vietnam | 141 | 1.8% | 1.9% | 63 | 1.1% | 1.4% | +78 | +0.7pp |
| Philippines | 139 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 60 | 1.1% | 0.8% | +79 | +0.6pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.