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, 11.2% (1,589) of people in Forster (NSW) were born overseas, compared with 10.1% in Mid-Coast (A). A further 81.9% (11,600) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Forster (NSW) - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Forster (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Forster (NSW), with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).

Forster (NSW)
Mid-Coast (A)

Not stated

2021 count

969

% of total

6.8%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

England

2021 count

452

% of total

3.2%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

New Zealand

2021 count

176

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Philippines

2021 count

73

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Scotland

2021 count

68

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Germany

2021 count

61

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

South Africa

2021 count

55

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Nepal

2021 count

51

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

India

2021 count

50

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Netherlands

2021 count

49

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Data table

Birthplace for Forster (NSW). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).

Birthplace for Forster (NSW). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
Birthplace for Forster (NSW). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mid-Coast (A)%Count%Mid-Coast (A)%Countpp
Not stated9696.8%7.7%1,1298.2%8.4%-160-1.4pp
England4523.2%3.3%4563.3%3.4%-4-0.1pp
New Zealand1761.2%1.1%1421.0%1.0%+34+0.2pp
Philippines730.5%0.4%500.4%0.3%+23+0.1pp
Scotland680.5%0.4%690.5%0.4%-10.0pp
Germany610.4%0.4%700.5%0.4%-9-0.1pp
South Africa550.4%0.3%420.3%0.2%+13+0.1pp
Nepal510.4%0.1%30.0%0.0%+48+0.4pp
India500.4%0.3%210.2%0.2%+29+0.2pp
Netherlands490.3%0.3%570.4%0.4%-8-0.1pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.