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, 14.8% (24,997) of people in Newcastle (C) were born overseas, compared with 12.2% in Regional NSW. A further 80.8% (136,481) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Newcastle (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Newcastle (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Newcastle (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Not stated
2021 count
7,379
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
7,379
4.4%
-0.4pp
England
2021 count
3,648
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,648
2.2%
+0.1pp
New Zealand
2021 count
1,779
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,779
1.1%
+0.1pp
India
2021 count
1,747
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,747
1.0%
+0.3pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
1,380
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,380
0.8%
-0.3pp
Philippines
2021 count
1,068
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,068
0.6%
+0.1pp
United States of America
2021 count
725
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
725
0.4%
0.0pp
North Macedonia
2021 count
632
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
632
0.4%
0.0pp
South Africa
2021 count
625
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
625
0.4%
+0.1pp
Germany
2021 count
585
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
585
0.3%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-8
-0.4pp
England
+420
+0.1pp
New Zealand
+156
+0.1pp
India
+589
+0.3pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-335
-0.3pp
Philippines
+256
+0.1pp
United States of America
+137
0.0pp
North Macedonia
-29
0.0pp
South Africa
+194
+0.1pp
Germany
-13
-0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Newcastle (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 7,379 | 4.4% | 6.5% | 7,387 | 4.8% | 7.9% | -8 | -0.4pp |
| England | 3,648 | 2.2% | 2.8% | 3,228 | 2.1% | 2.8% | +420 | +0.1pp |
| New Zealand | 1,779 | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1,623 | 1.0% | 1.1% | +156 | +0.1pp |
| India | 1,747 | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1,158 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +589 | +0.3pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 1,380 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 1,715 | 1.1% | 0.4% | -335 | -0.3pp |
| Philippines | 1,068 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 812 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +256 | +0.1pp |
| United States of America | 725 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 588 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +137 | 0.0pp |
| North Macedonia | 632 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 661 | 0.4% | 0.2% | -29 | 0.0pp |
| South Africa | 625 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 431 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +194 | +0.1pp |
| Germany | 585 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 598 | 0.4% | 0.4% | -13 | -0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.