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, 13.2% (1,017) of people in Atherton were born overseas, compared with 13.1% in Tablelands (R). A further 77% (5,916) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Atherton - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Atherton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Tablelands (R) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Atherton, with comparison markers for Tablelands (R).
Not stated
2021 count
754
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
754
9.8%
+1.3pp
England
2021 count
220
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
220
2.9%
-0.4pp
New Zealand
2021 count
150
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
150
2.0%
+0.2pp
Italy
2021 count
65
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
65
0.8%
-0.2pp
Philippines
2021 count
61
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
61
0.8%
+0.1pp
Germany
2021 count
55
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
55
0.7%
-0.1pp
Papua New Guinea
2021 count
53
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
53
0.7%
+0.1pp
India
2021 count
44
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
44
0.6%
+0.1pp
United States of America
2021 count
40
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
40
0.5%
+0.1pp
South Africa
2021 count
29
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
29
0.4%
0.0pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
+130
+1.3pp
England
-18
-0.4pp
New Zealand
+16
+0.2pp
Italy
-10
-0.2pp
Philippines
+12
+0.1pp
Germany
-2
-0.1pp
Papua New Guinea
+9
+0.1pp
India
+11
+0.1pp
United States of America
+9
+0.1pp
South Africa
+2
0.0pp
Data table
Birthplace for Atherton. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Tablelands (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Tablelands (R)% | Count | % | Tablelands (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 754 | 9.8% | 10.5% | 624 | 8.5% | 10.1% | +130 | +1.3pp |
| England | 220 | 2.9% | 3.2% | 238 | 3.3% | 3.5% | -18 | -0.4pp |
| New Zealand | 150 | 2.0% | 2.1% | 134 | 1.8% | 2.0% | +16 | +0.2pp |
| Italy | 65 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 75 | 1.0% | 0.6% | -10 | -0.2pp |
| Philippines | 61 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 49 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +12 | +0.1pp |
| Germany | 55 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 57 | 0.8% | 0.8% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Papua New Guinea | 53 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 44 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +9 | +0.1pp |
| India | 44 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 33 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +11 | +0.1pp |
| United States of America | 40 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 31 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +9 | +0.1pp |
| South Africa | 29 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 27 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +2 | 0.0pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.