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, 23.3% (50,731) of people in Penrith (C) were born overseas, compared with 38.6% in Greater Sydney. A further 71.3% (155,153) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Penrith (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Penrith (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Penrith (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Not stated
2021 count
11,716
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
11,716
5.4%
-0.6pp
India
2021 count
6,744
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
6,744
3.1%
+1.2pp
England
2021 count
5,498
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
5,498
2.5%
-0.6pp
Philippines
2021 count
5,111
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
5,111
2.3%
+0.4pp
New Zealand
2021 count
4,227
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
4,227
1.9%
-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
1,578
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,578
0.7%
+0.1pp
Fiji
2021 count
1,536
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,536
0.7%
+0.1pp
Malta
2021 count
1,239
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,239
0.6%
0.0pp
Sri Lanka
2021 count
1,037
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,037
0.5%
+0.1pp
Pakistan
2021 count
1,016
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,016
0.5%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-72
-0.6pp
India
+2,983
+1.2pp
England
-622
-0.6pp
Philippines
+1,308
+0.4pp
New Zealand
+363
-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+345
+0.1pp
Fiji
+363
+0.1pp
Malta
-27
0.0pp
Sri Lanka
+215
+0.1pp
Pakistan
+354
+0.2pp
Data table
Birthplace for Penrith (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 11,716 | 5.4% | 4.6% | 11,788 | 6.0% | 6.2% | -72 | -0.6pp |
| India | 6,744 | 3.1% | 3.6% | 3,761 | 1.9% | 2.7% | +2,983 | +1.2pp |
| England | 5,498 | 2.5% | 2.9% | 6,120 | 3.1% | 3.1% | -622 | -0.6pp |
| Philippines | 5,111 | 2.3% | 1.7% | 3,803 | 1.9% | 1.6% | +1,308 | +0.4pp |
| New Zealand | 4,227 | 1.9% | 1.6% | 3,864 | 2.0% | 1.8% | +363 | -0.1pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 1,578 | 0.7% | 4.6% | 1,233 | 0.6% | 4.7% | +345 | +0.1pp |
| Fiji | 1,536 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1,173 | 0.6% | 0.7% | +363 | +0.1pp |
| Malta | 1,239 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 1,266 | 0.6% | 0.3% | -27 | 0.0pp |
| Sri Lanka | 1,037 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 822 | 0.4% | 0.6% | +215 | +0.1pp |
| Pakistan | 1,016 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 662 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +354 | +0.2pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.