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, 21% (99,791) of people in Moreton Bay (R) were born overseas, compared with 27.2% in Greater Brisbane. A further 74.7% (355,678) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Moreton Bay (R) - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Moreton Bay (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Brisbane and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Moreton Bay (R), with comparison markers for Greater Brisbane.

Moreton Bay (R)
Greater Brisbane

New Zealand

2021 count

23,135

% of total

4.9%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

England

2021 count

22,529

% of total

4.7%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Not stated

2021 count

20,850

% of total

4.4%

Change from 2016

-1.7pp

South Africa

2021 count

5,784

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Philippines

2021 count

5,178

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

India

2021 count

5,078

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Scotland

2021 count

2,481

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Germany

2021 count

1,873

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Fiji

2021 count

1,705

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Papua New Guinea

2021 count

1,626

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Birthplace for Moreton Bay (R). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.

Birthplace for Moreton Bay (R). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
Birthplace for Moreton Bay (R). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Brisbane%Count%Greater Brisbane%Countpp
New Zealand23,1354.9%4.4%21,3435.0%4.7%+1,792-0.1pp
England22,5294.7%3.8%20,9804.9%4.0%+1,549-0.2pp
Not stated20,8504.4%4.5%25,8486.1%6.1%-4,998-1.7pp
South Africa5,7841.2%1.1%4,6771.1%1.0%+1,107+0.1pp
Philippines5,1781.1%1.1%3,5420.8%0.9%+1,636+0.3pp
India5,0781.1%2.0%2,3170.5%1.6%+2,761+0.6pp
Scotland2,4810.5%0.5%2,3850.6%0.5%+96-0.1pp
Germany1,8730.4%0.4%1,7320.4%0.4%+1410.0pp
Fiji1,7050.4%0.4%1,3820.3%0.4%+323+0.1pp
Papua New Guinea1,6260.3%0.4%1,4600.3%0.4%+1660.0pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.