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, 33.3% (4,411) of people in St Marys (NSW) were born overseas, compared with 23.3% in Penrith (C). A further 56.9% (7,546) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

St Marys (NSW) - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for St Marys (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for St Marys (NSW), with comparison markers for Penrith (C).

St Marys (NSW)
Penrith (C)

Not stated

2021 count

1,305

% of total

9.8%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

Philippines

2021 count

614

% of total

4.6%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

New Zealand

2021 count

494

% of total

3.7%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

India

2021 count

490

% of total

3.7%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

England

2021 count

198

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Fiji

2021 count

195

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Samoa

2021 count

140

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Nigeria

2021 count

133

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)

2021 count

106

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Pakistan

2021 count

100

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Data table

Birthplace for St Marys (NSW). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).

Birthplace for St Marys (NSW). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Birthplace for St Marys (NSW). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Penrith (C)%Count%Penrith (C)%Countpp
Not stated1,3059.8%5.4%1,1129.1%6.0%+193+0.7pp
Philippines6144.6%2.3%4703.9%1.9%+144+0.7pp
New Zealand4943.7%1.9%5024.1%2.0%-8-0.4pp
India4903.7%3.1%3843.2%1.9%+106+0.5pp
England1981.5%2.5%2171.8%3.1%-19-0.3pp
Fiji1951.5%0.7%1601.3%0.6%+35+0.2pp
Samoa1401.1%0.4%1201.0%0.3%+20+0.1pp
Nigeria1331.0%0.1%500.4%0.1%+83+0.6pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)1060.8%0.7%600.5%0.6%+46+0.3pp
Pakistan1000.8%0.5%1050.9%0.3%-5-0.1pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.