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, 16.2% (6,014) of people in Whitsunday (R) were born overseas, compared with 18.4% in Regional Qld. A further 72.2% (26,790) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Whitsunday (R) - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Whitsunday (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Whitsunday (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.

Whitsunday (R)
Regional Qld

Not stated

2021 count

4,289

% of total

11.6%

Change from 2016

-2.4pp

England

2021 count

1,215

% of total

3.3%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

New Zealand

2021 count

1,125

% of total

3.0%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Philippines

2021 count

368

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

South Africa

2021 count

234

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Germany

2021 count

184

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Scotland

2021 count

145

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Thailand

2021 count

139

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Argentina

2021 count

128

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

India

2021 count

127

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Birthplace for Whitsunday (R). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.

Birthplace for Whitsunday (R). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Birthplace for Whitsunday (R). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Qld%Count%Regional Qld%Countpp
Not stated4,28911.6%7.3%4,73314.0%8.4%-444-2.4pp
England1,2153.3%3.7%1,0743.2%3.7%+141+0.1pp
New Zealand1,1253.0%3.7%1,1513.4%3.9%-26-0.4pp
Philippines3681.0%0.9%3331.0%0.8%+350.0pp
South Africa2340.6%0.9%1880.6%0.7%+460.0pp
Germany1840.5%0.4%1640.5%0.5%+200.0pp
Scotland1450.4%0.4%1260.4%0.4%+190.0pp
Thailand1390.4%0.2%1020.3%0.2%+37+0.1pp
Argentina1280.3%0.1%90.0%0.0%+119+0.3pp
India1270.3%0.8%970.3%0.6%+300.0pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.