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, 33.5% (1,862) of people in Merriwa (WA) were born overseas, compared with 40.8% in Wanneroo (C). A further 59.5% (3,301) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Merriwa (WA) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Merriwa (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Merriwa (WA), with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).
England
2021 count
676
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
+10.0pp
676
12.2%
+10.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
389
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-7.5pp
389
7.0%
-7.5pp
New Zealand
2021 count
248
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
248
4.5%
+0.9pp
South Africa
2021 count
141
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-
141
2.5%
-
Philippines
2021 count
71
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
71
1.3%
-
Scotland
2021 count
60
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
60
1.1%
-
India
2021 count
58
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
58
1.0%
-
Ireland
2021 count
52
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-
52
0.9%
-
Zimbabwe
2021 count
39
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-
39
0.7%
-
Malaysia
2021 count
32
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-
32
0.6%
-
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
England
+673
+10.0pp
Not stated
+369
-7.5pp
New Zealand
+243
+0.9pp
Data table
Birthplace for Merriwa (WA). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wanneroo (C)% | Count | % | Wanneroo (C)% | Count | pp | |
| England | 676 | 12.2% | 12.5% | 3 | 2.2% | 13.1% | +673 | +10.0pp |
| Not stated | 389 | 7.0% | 4.1% | 20 | 14.5% | 6.4% | +369 | -7.5pp |
| New Zealand | 248 | 4.5% | 3.4% | 5 | 3.6% | 3.8% | +243 | +0.9pp |
| South Africa | 141 | 2.5% | 3.2% | - | - | 3.2% | - | - |
| Philippines | 71 | 1.3% | 1.3% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| Scotland | 60 | 1.1% | 1.7% | - | - | 1.8% | - | - |
| India | 58 | 1.0% | 2.0% | - | - | 1.7% | - | - |
| Ireland | 52 | 0.9% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Zimbabwe | 39 | 0.7% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Malaysia | 32 | 0.6% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.