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, 10.9% (335) of people in Merredin (S) were born overseas, compared with 17.7% in Regional WA. A further 75.9% (2,343) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Merredin (S) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Merredin (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Merredin (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Not stated
2021 count
409
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
+4.7pp
409
13.2%
+4.7pp
England
2021 count
93
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
93
3.0%
-0.6pp
New Zealand
2021 count
66
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
66
2.1%
-0.6pp
Philippines
2021 count
24
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
24
0.8%
-0.6pp
South Africa
2021 count
19
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
19
0.6%
-0.2pp
Zimbabwe
2021 count
16
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
16
0.5%
+0.2pp
Scotland
2021 count
14
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
14
0.5%
0.0pp
India
2021 count
12
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
12
0.4%
+0.2pp
Italy
2021 count
11
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
11
0.4%
+0.1pp
Nigeria
2021 count
11
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
11
0.4%
+0.3pp
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
+126
+4.7pp
England
-28
-0.6pp
New Zealand
-25
-0.6pp
Philippines
-22
-0.6pp
South Africa
-9
-0.2pp
Zimbabwe
+6
+0.2pp
Scotland
-3
0.0pp
India
+4
+0.2pp
Italy
0
+0.1pp
Nigeria
+7
+0.3pp
Data table
Birthplace for Merredin (S). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 409 | 13.2% | 10.2% | 283 | 8.5% | 10.5% | +126 | +4.7pp |
| England | 93 | 3.0% | 5.0% | 121 | 3.6% | 5.1% | -28 | -0.6pp |
| New Zealand | 66 | 2.1% | 3.0% | 91 | 2.7% | 3.4% | -25 | -0.6pp |
| Philippines | 24 | 0.8% | 1.2% | 46 | 1.4% | 1.2% | -22 | -0.6pp |
| South Africa | 19 | 0.6% | 1.1% | 28 | 0.8% | 1.1% | -9 | -0.2pp |
| Zimbabwe | 16 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 10 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Scotland | 14 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 17 | 0.5% | 0.6% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| India | 12 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 8 | 0.2% | 0.5% | +4 | +0.2pp |
| Italy | 11 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 11 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0 | +0.1pp |
| Nigeria | 11 | 0.4% | 0.0% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +7 | +0.3pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.