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, 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.
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Surf Coast (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Not stated
2021 count
1,986
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,986
5.3%
-1.1pp
England
2021 count
1,316
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,316
3.5%
-0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
490
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
490
1.3%
+0.2pp
South Africa
2021 count
207
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
207
0.5%
+0.1pp
Germany
2021 count
205
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
205
0.5%
0.0pp
Scotland
2021 count
188
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
188
0.5%
0.0pp
United States of America
2021 count
187
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
187
0.5%
0.0pp
Netherlands
2021 count
159
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
159
0.4%
0.0pp
Ireland
2021 count
129
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
129
0.3%
0.0pp
Canada
2021 count
120
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
120
0.3%
0.0pp
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.