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, 54.1% (15,400) of people in Perth (C) were born overseas, compared with 35.9% in Greater Perth. A further 36.4% (10,345) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Perth (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Perth (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Perth (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
Not stated
2021 count
2,712
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
-7.0pp
2,712
9.5%
-7.0pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
1,773
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
1,773
6.2%
+1.7pp
England
2021 count
1,589
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,589
5.6%
-0.4pp
India
2021 count
1,259
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
1,259
4.4%
+0.9pp
Malaysia
2021 count
832
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
832
2.9%
-0.4pp
New Zealand
2021 count
587
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
587
2.1%
-0.3pp
Singapore
2021 count
583
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
583
2.0%
-0.4pp
Indonesia
2021 count
516
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
516
1.8%
+0.5pp
Philippines
2021 count
438
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
438
1.5%
+0.3pp
South Africa
2021 count
433
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
433
1.5%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-883
-7.0pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+802
+1.7pp
England
+275
-0.4pp
India
+487
+0.9pp
Malaysia
+122
-0.4pp
New Zealand
+55
-0.3pp
Singapore
+65
-0.4pp
Indonesia
+232
+0.5pp
Philippines
+178
+0.3pp
South Africa
+175
+0.3pp
Data table
Birthplace for Perth (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 2,712 | 9.5% | 4.6% | 3,595 | 16.5% | 6.6% | -883 | -7.0pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 1,773 | 6.2% | 1.3% | 971 | 4.5% | 1.3% | +802 | +1.7pp |
| England | 1,589 | 5.6% | 8.0% | 1,314 | 6.0% | 8.6% | +275 | -0.4pp |
| India | 1,259 | 4.4% | 2.8% | 772 | 3.5% | 2.4% | +487 | +0.9pp |
| Malaysia | 832 | 2.9% | 1.5% | 710 | 3.3% | 1.5% | +122 | -0.4pp |
| New Zealand | 587 | 2.1% | 2.8% | 532 | 2.4% | 3.2% | +55 | -0.3pp |
| Singapore | 583 | 2.0% | 0.7% | 518 | 2.4% | 0.7% | +65 | -0.4pp |
| Indonesia | 516 | 1.8% | 0.6% | 284 | 1.3% | 0.5% | +232 | +0.5pp |
| Philippines | 438 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 260 | 1.2% | 1.3% | +178 | +0.3pp |
| South Africa | 433 | 1.5% | 1.8% | 258 | 1.2% | 1.8% | +175 | +0.3pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.