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, 48.6% (102,888) of people in Sydney (C) were born overseas, compared with 38.6% in Greater Sydney. A further 44.6% (94,475) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Sydney (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Sydney (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sydney (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
16,583
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
16,583
7.8%
-1.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
14,231
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-6.0pp
14,231
6.7%
-6.0pp
England
2021 count
10,101
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
10,101
4.8%
+0.3pp
Thailand
2021 count
6,381
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
6,381
3.0%
-0.2pp
Indonesia
2021 count
5,786
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
5,786
2.7%
+0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
5,715
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
5,715
2.7%
+0.1pp
India
2021 count
3,875
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
3,875
1.8%
+0.5pp
United States of America
2021 count
2,819
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,819
1.3%
0.0pp
Malaysia
2021 count
2,780
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
2,780
1.3%
+0.2pp
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
2021 count
2,534
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,534
1.2%
+0.1pp
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-3,707
-1.9pp
Not stated
-12,289
-6.0pp
England
+711
+0.3pp
Thailand
-385
-0.2pp
Indonesia
+552
+0.2pp
New Zealand
+288
+0.1pp
India
+1,067
+0.5pp
United States of America
+131
0.0pp
Malaysia
+447
+0.2pp
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
+174
+0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Sydney (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 16,583 | 7.8% | 4.6% | 20,290 | 9.7% | 4.7% | -3,707 | -1.9pp |
| Not stated | 14,231 | 6.7% | 4.6% | 26,520 | 12.7% | 6.2% | -12,289 | -6.0pp |
| England | 10,101 | 4.8% | 2.9% | 9,390 | 4.5% | 3.1% | +711 | +0.3pp |
| Thailand | 6,381 | 3.0% | 0.5% | 6,766 | 3.2% | 0.5% | -385 | -0.2pp |
| Indonesia | 5,786 | 2.7% | 0.7% | 5,234 | 2.5% | 0.6% | +552 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 5,715 | 2.7% | 1.6% | 5,427 | 2.6% | 1.8% | +288 | +0.1pp |
| India | 3,875 | 1.8% | 3.6% | 2,808 | 1.3% | 2.7% | +1,067 | +0.5pp |
| United States of America | 2,819 | 1.3% | 0.5% | 2,688 | 1.3% | 0.5% | +131 | 0.0pp |
| Malaysia | 2,780 | 1.3% | 0.7% | 2,333 | 1.1% | 0.6% | +447 | +0.2pp |
| Hong Kong (SAR of China) | 2,534 | 1.2% | 0.9% | 2,360 | 1.1% | 0.8% | +174 | +0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.