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, 18% (2,038) of people in Northam (S) were born overseas, compared with 17.7% in Regional WA. A further 72.1% (8,181) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Northam (S) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Northam (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northam (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Not stated
2021 count
1,130
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,130
10.0%
-0.4pp
England
2021 count
575
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
575
5.1%
-0.7pp
New Zealand
2021 count
305
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
305
2.7%
0.0pp
Philippines
2021 count
177
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
177
1.6%
0.0pp
India
2021 count
77
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
77
0.7%
0.0pp
Germany
2021 count
74
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
74
0.7%
0.0pp
South Africa
2021 count
73
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
73
0.6%
0.0pp
Netherlands
2021 count
53
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
53
0.5%
+0.1pp
Scotland
2021 count
43
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
43
0.4%
-0.1pp
Vietnam
2021 count
41
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
41
0.4%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-29
-0.4pp
England
-67
-0.7pp
New Zealand
+6
0.0pp
Philippines
-3
0.0pp
India
-6
0.0pp
Germany
-1
0.0pp
South Africa
+8
0.0pp
Netherlands
+4
+0.1pp
Scotland
-9
-0.1pp
Vietnam
-14
-0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Northam (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 | 1,130 | 10.0% | 10.2% | 1,159 | 10.4% | 10.5% | -29 | -0.4pp |
| England | 575 | 5.1% | 5.0% | 642 | 5.8% | 5.1% | -67 | -0.7pp |
| New Zealand | 305 | 2.7% | 3.0% | 299 | 2.7% | 3.4% | +6 | 0.0pp |
| Philippines | 177 | 1.6% | 1.2% | 180 | 1.6% | 1.2% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| India | 77 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 83 | 0.7% | 0.5% | -6 | 0.0pp |
| Germany | 74 | 0.7% | 0.4% | 75 | 0.7% | 0.4% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| South Africa | 73 | 0.6% | 1.1% | 65 | 0.6% | 1.1% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| Netherlands | 53 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 49 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Scotland | 43 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 52 | 0.5% | 0.6% | -9 | -0.1pp |
| Vietnam | 41 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 55 | 0.5% | 0.1% | -14 | -0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.