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, 13.5% (14,606) of people in Shoalhaven (C) were born overseas, compared with 12.2% in Regional NSW. A further 80% (86,780) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Shoalhaven (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Shoalhaven (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Shoalhaven (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Not stated
2021 count
7,113
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
7,113
6.6%
-1.6pp
England
2021 count
4,807
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
4,807
4.4%
-0.3pp
New Zealand
2021 count
1,334
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,334
1.2%
0.0pp
Philippines
2021 count
569
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
569
0.5%
+0.1pp
Scotland
2021 count
552
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
552
0.5%
0.0pp
Germany
2021 count
547
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
547
0.5%
-0.1pp
India
2021 count
546
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
546
0.5%
+0.2pp
United States of America
2021 count
395
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
395
0.4%
+0.1pp
Netherlands
2021 count
377
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
377
0.3%
-0.1pp
South Africa
2021 count
321
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
321
0.3%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-1,020
-1.6pp
England
+146
-0.3pp
New Zealand
+134
0.0pp
Philippines
+204
+0.1pp
Scotland
+11
0.0pp
Germany
-8
-0.1pp
India
+268
+0.2pp
United States of America
+90
+0.1pp
Netherlands
-28
-0.1pp
South Africa
+95
+0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Shoalhaven (C). 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 | 7,113 | 6.6% | 6.5% | 8,133 | 8.2% | 7.9% | -1,020 | -1.6pp |
| England | 4,807 | 4.4% | 2.8% | 4,661 | 4.7% | 2.8% | +146 | -0.3pp |
| New Zealand | 1,334 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1,200 | 1.2% | 1.1% | +134 | 0.0pp |
| Philippines | 569 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 365 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +204 | +0.1pp |
| Scotland | 552 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 541 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +11 | 0.0pp |
| Germany | 547 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 555 | 0.6% | 0.4% | -8 | -0.1pp |
| India | 546 | 0.5% | 0.7% | 278 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +268 | +0.2pp |
| United States of America | 395 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 305 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +90 | +0.1pp |
| Netherlands | 377 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 405 | 0.4% | 0.3% | -28 | -0.1pp |
| South Africa | 321 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 226 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +95 | +0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.