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, 12% (9,002) of people in Port Stephens (A) were born overseas, compared with 12.2% in Regional NSW. A further 83% (62,402) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Port Stephens (A) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Port Stephens (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Stephens (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Not stated
2021 count
3,806
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
3,806
5.1%
-3.0pp
England
2021 count
2,974
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
2,974
4.0%
+0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
975
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
975
1.3%
0.0pp
Scotland
2021 count
371
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
371
0.5%
0.0pp
Germany
2021 count
353
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
353
0.5%
0.0pp
South Africa
2021 count
343
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
343
0.5%
+0.1pp
Philippines
2021 count
312
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
312
0.4%
0.0pp
United States of America
2021 count
236
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
236
0.3%
0.0pp
Netherlands
2021 count
217
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
217
0.3%
0.0pp
Thailand
2021 count
174
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
174
0.2%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-1,807
-3.0pp
England
+307
+0.2pp
New Zealand
+100
0.0pp
Scotland
+3
0.0pp
Germany
+17
0.0pp
South Africa
+77
+0.1pp
Philippines
+68
0.0pp
United States of America
+49
0.0pp
Netherlands
-17
0.0pp
Thailand
+78
+0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Port Stephens (A). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 3,806 | 5.1% | 6.5% | 5,613 | 8.1% | 7.9% | -1,807 | -3.0pp |
| England | 2,974 | 4.0% | 2.8% | 2,667 | 3.8% | 2.8% | +307 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 975 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 875 | 1.3% | 1.1% | +100 | 0.0pp |
| Scotland | 371 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 368 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Germany | 353 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 336 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +17 | 0.0pp |
| South Africa | 343 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 266 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +77 | +0.1pp |
| Philippines | 312 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 244 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +68 | 0.0pp |
| United States of America | 236 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 187 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +49 | 0.0pp |
| Netherlands | 217 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 234 | 0.3% | 0.3% | -17 | 0.0pp |
| Thailand | 174 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 96 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +78 | +0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.