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, 37.6% (86,290) of people in Whittlesea (C) were born overseas, compared with 35.7% in Greater Melbourne. A further 58.2% (133,440) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Whittlesea (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Whittlesea (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whittlesea (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
India
2021 count
17,030
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
17,030
7.4%
+1.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
9,625
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
9,625
4.2%
-1.9pp
North Macedonia
2021 count
5,787
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
5,787
2.5%
-0.3pp
Italy
2021 count
5,742
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
5,742
2.5%
-0.5pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
3,883
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,883
1.7%
-0.2pp
Greece
2021 count
3,832
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,832
1.7%
-0.2pp
Sri Lanka
2021 count
3,717
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3,717
1.6%
0.0pp
Vietnam
2021 count
3,681
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3,681
1.6%
0.0pp
Philippines
2021 count
3,126
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,126
1.4%
+0.2pp
Iraq
2021 count
3,013
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,013
1.3%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
India
+5,911
+1.8pp
Not stated
-2,417
-1.9pp
North Macedonia
+352
-0.3pp
Italy
-238
-0.5pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+142
-0.2pp
Greece
+72
-0.2pp
Sri Lanka
+581
0.0pp
Vietnam
+483
0.0pp
Philippines
+818
+0.2pp
Iraq
+691
+0.1pp
Data table
Birthplace for Whittlesea (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| India | 17,030 | 7.4% | 4.9% | 11,119 | 5.6% | 3.6% | +5,911 | +1.8pp |
| Not stated | 9,625 | 4.2% | 4.4% | 12,042 | 6.1% | 6.3% | -2,417 | -1.9pp |
| North Macedonia | 5,787 | 2.5% | 0.4% | 5,435 | 2.8% | 0.4% | +352 | -0.3pp |
| Italy | 5,742 | 2.5% | 1.2% | 5,980 | 3.0% | 1.4% | -238 | -0.5pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 3,883 | 1.7% | 3.4% | 3,741 | 1.9% | 3.5% | +142 | -0.2pp |
| Greece | 3,832 | 1.7% | 0.9% | 3,760 | 1.9% | 1.0% | +72 | -0.2pp |
| Sri Lanka | 3,717 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 3,136 | 1.6% | 1.2% | +581 | 0.0pp |
| Vietnam | 3,681 | 1.6% | 1.8% | 3,198 | 1.6% | 1.8% | +483 | 0.0pp |
| Philippines | 3,126 | 1.4% | 1.2% | 2,308 | 1.2% | 1.0% | +818 | +0.2pp |
| Iraq | 3,013 | 1.3% | 0.5% | 2,322 | 1.2% | 0.4% | +691 | +0.1pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.