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, 35.1% (8,187) of people in Mernda were born overseas, compared with 37.6% in Whittlesea (C). A further 61.7% (14,388) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Mernda - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Mernda in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whittlesea (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mernda, with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).
India
2021 count
2,397
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
2,397
10.3%
+4.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
759
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
759
3.3%
-3.2pp
Sri Lanka
2021 count
505
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
505
2.2%
+0.3pp
Philippines
2021 count
407
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
407
1.7%
+0.2pp
New Zealand
2021 count
375
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
375
1.6%
-0.2pp
England
2021 count
354
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
354
1.5%
-0.3pp
Iran
2021 count
305
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
305
1.3%
+0.7pp
Italy
2021 count
260
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
260
1.1%
0.0pp
Nepal
2021 count
247
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
247
1.1%
+0.9pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
211
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
211
0.9%
0.0pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
India
+1,451
+4.5pp
Not stated
-304
-3.2pp
Sri Lanka
+188
+0.3pp
Philippines
+164
+0.2pp
New Zealand
+87
-0.2pp
England
+54
-0.3pp
Iran
+209
+0.7pp
Italy
+86
0.0pp
Nepal
+218
+0.9pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+68
0.0pp
Data table
Birthplace for Mernda. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Whittlesea (C)% | Count | % | Whittlesea (C)% | Count | pp | |
| India | 2,397 | 10.3% | 7.4% | 946 | 5.8% | 5.6% | +1,451 | +4.5pp |
| Not stated | 759 | 3.3% | 4.2% | 1,063 | 6.5% | 6.1% | -304 | -3.2pp |
| Sri Lanka | 505 | 2.2% | 1.6% | 317 | 1.9% | 1.6% | +188 | +0.3pp |
| Philippines | 407 | 1.7% | 1.4% | 243 | 1.5% | 1.2% | +164 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealand | 375 | 1.6% | 1.1% | 288 | 1.8% | 1.2% | +87 | -0.2pp |
| England | 354 | 1.5% | 1.2% | 300 | 1.8% | 1.3% | +54 | -0.3pp |
| Iran | 305 | 1.3% | 1.0% | 96 | 0.6% | 0.8% | +209 | +0.7pp |
| Italy | 260 | 1.1% | 2.5% | 174 | 1.1% | 3.0% | +86 | 0.0pp |
| Nepal | 247 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 29 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +218 | +0.9pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 211 | 0.9% | 1.7% | 143 | 0.9% | 1.9% | +68 | 0.0pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.