Cultural diversity
Birthplace
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.
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, 11.7% (4,399) of people in Surf Coast (S) were born overseas, compared with 12.4% in Regional Vic.. A further 83% (31,262) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Surf Coast (S) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Surf Coast (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Surf Coast (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Not stated
England
New Zealand
South Africa
Germany
Scotland
United States of America
Netherlands
Ireland
Canada
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
+108
-1.1pp
England
+221
-0.2pp
New Zealand
+154
+0.2pp
South Africa
+81
+0.1pp
Germany
+52
0.0pp
Scotland
+38
0.0pp
United States of America
+38
0.0pp
Netherlands
+35
0.0pp
Ireland
+31
0.0pp
Canada
+38
0.0pp
Data table
Birthplace for Surf Coast (S). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 1,986 | 5.3% | 6.6% | 1,878 | 6.4% | 8.3% | +108 | -1.1pp |
| England | 1,316 | 3.5% | 2.6% | 1,095 | 3.7% | 2.6% | +221 | -0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 490 | 1.3% | 1.0% | 336 | 1.1% | 1.0% | +154 | +0.2pp |
| South Africa | 207 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 126 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +81 | +0.1pp |
| Germany | 205 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 153 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +52 | 0.0pp |
| Scotland | 188 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 150 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +38 | 0.0pp |
| United States of America | 187 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 149 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +38 | 0.0pp |
| Netherlands | 159 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 124 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +35 | 0.0pp |
| Ireland | 129 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 98 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +31 | 0.0pp |
| Canada | 120 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 82 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +38 | 0.0pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.