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, 34.5% (35,696) of people in Melville (C) were born overseas, compared with 35.9% in Greater Perth. A further 62.1% (64,270) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Melville (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Melville (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Melville (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.

Melville (C)
Greater Perth

England

2021 count

6,808

% of total

6.6%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Malaysia

2021 count

3,500

% of total

3.4%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Not stated

2021 count

3,499

% of total

3.4%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)

2021 count

2,163

% of total

2.1%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

India

2021 count

1,920

% of total

1.9%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

New Zealand

2021 count

1,743

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Indonesia

2021 count

1,720

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

South Africa

2021 count

1,709

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Singapore

2021 count

1,650

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Scotland

2021 count

1,179

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Data table

Birthplace for Melville (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.

Birthplace for Melville (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
Birthplace for Melville (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Perth%Count%Greater Perth%Countpp
England6,8086.6%8.0%6,7816.9%8.6%+27-0.3pp
Malaysia3,5003.4%1.5%3,1513.2%1.5%+349+0.2pp
Not stated3,4993.4%4.6%4,6944.8%6.6%-1,195-1.4pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)2,1632.1%1.3%1,7331.8%1.3%+430+0.3pp
India1,9201.9%2.8%1,7371.8%2.4%+183+0.1pp
New Zealand1,7431.7%2.8%1,8151.9%3.2%-72-0.2pp
Indonesia1,7201.7%0.6%1,4381.5%0.5%+282+0.2pp
South Africa1,7091.7%1.8%1,6361.7%1.8%+730.0pp
Singapore1,6501.6%0.7%1,5621.6%0.7%+880.0pp
Scotland1,1791.1%1.1%1,2101.2%1.2%-31-0.1pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.