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, 7.8% (2,640) of people in Western Downs (R) were born overseas, compared with 18.4% in Regional Qld. A further 82% (27,722) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Western Downs (R) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Western Downs (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Western Downs (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Not stated
2021 count
3,448
% of total
10.2%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
3,448
10.2%
-1.9pp
Philippines
2021 count
508
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
508
1.5%
+0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
458
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
458
1.4%
0.0pp
England
2021 count
406
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
406
1.2%
+0.1pp
South Africa
2021 count
183
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
183
0.5%
0.0pp
India
2021 count
112
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
112
0.3%
-0.1pp
Argentina
2021 count
87
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-
87
0.3%
-
Ireland
2021 count
56
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
56
0.2%
0.0pp
Papua New Guinea
2021 count
50
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
50
0.1%
0.0pp
Germany
2021 count
49
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
49
0.1%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-589
-1.9pp
Philippines
+74
+0.2pp
New Zealand
-2
0.0pp
England
+31
+0.1pp
South Africa
+15
0.0pp
India
-29
-0.1pp
Ireland
-9
0.0pp
Papua New Guinea
+10
0.0pp
Germany
-13
-0.1pp
Netherlands
-10
-0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Western Downs (R). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 3,448 | 10.2% | 7.3% | 4,037 | 12.1% | 8.4% | -589 | -1.9pp |
| Philippines | 508 | 1.5% | 0.9% | 434 | 1.3% | 0.8% | +74 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 458 | 1.4% | 3.7% | 460 | 1.4% | 3.9% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| England | 406 | 1.2% | 3.7% | 375 | 1.1% | 3.7% | +31 | +0.1pp |
| South Africa | 183 | 0.5% | 0.9% | 168 | 0.5% | 0.7% | +15 | 0.0pp |
| India | 112 | 0.3% | 0.8% | 141 | 0.4% | 0.6% | -29 | -0.1pp |
| Argentina | 87 | 0.3% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Ireland | 56 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 65 | 0.2% | 0.2% | -9 | 0.0pp |
| Papua New Guinea | 50 | 0.1% | 0.3% | 40 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +10 | 0.0pp |
| Germany | 49 | 0.1% | 0.4% | 62 | 0.2% | 0.5% | -13 | -0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.