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, 33.1% (33,761) of people in Port Phillip (C) were born overseas, compared with 35.7% in Greater Melbourne. A further 60.7% (61,847) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Port Phillip (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Port Phillip (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Phillip (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Not stated
2021 count
6,357
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
6,357
6.2%
-4.3pp
England
2021 count
4,989
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4,989
4.9%
0.0pp
New Zealand
2021 count
2,684
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
2,684
2.6%
-0.4pp
India
2021 count
2,131
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,131
2.1%
+0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
1,658
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,658
1.6%
-0.2pp
Ireland
2021 count
1,418
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,418
1.4%
+0.2pp
United States of America
2021 count
1,207
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,207
1.2%
+0.1pp
Greece
2021 count
1,071
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,071
1.1%
-0.1pp
Malaysia
2021 count
894
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
894
0.9%
+0.1pp
Colombia
2021 count
865
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
865
0.8%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-4,212
-4.3pp
England
+26
0.0pp
New Zealand
-335
-0.4pp
India
+111
+0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-167
-0.2pp
Ireland
+233
+0.2pp
United States of America
+99
+0.1pp
Greece
-92
-0.1pp
Malaysia
+59
+0.1pp
Colombia
+508
+0.4pp
Data table
Birthplace for Port Phillip (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 6,357 | 6.2% | 4.4% | 10,569 | 10.5% | 6.3% | -4,212 | -4.3pp |
| England | 4,989 | 4.9% | 2.7% | 4,963 | 4.9% | 3.0% | +26 | 0.0pp |
| New Zealand | 2,684 | 2.6% | 1.7% | 3,019 | 3.0% | 1.8% | -335 | -0.4pp |
| India | 2,131 | 2.1% | 4.9% | 2,020 | 2.0% | 3.6% | +111 | +0.1pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 1,658 | 1.6% | 3.4% | 1,825 | 1.8% | 3.5% | -167 | -0.2pp |
| Ireland | 1,418 | 1.4% | 0.3% | 1,185 | 1.2% | 0.3% | +233 | +0.2pp |
| United States of America | 1,207 | 1.2% | 0.4% | 1,108 | 1.1% | 0.4% | +99 | +0.1pp |
| Greece | 1,071 | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1,163 | 1.2% | 1.0% | -92 | -0.1pp |
| Malaysia | 894 | 0.9% | 1.2% | 835 | 0.8% | 1.1% | +59 | +0.1pp |
| Colombia | 865 | 0.8% | 0.2% | 357 | 0.4% | 0.1% | +508 | +0.4pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.