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, 31.4% (7,847) of people in South Morang were born overseas, compared with 37.6% in Whittlesea (C). A further 65.9% (16,442) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

South Morang - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for South Morang in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whittlesea (C) and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for South Morang, with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).

South Morang
Whittlesea (C)

India

2021 count

1,613

% of total

6.5%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Not stated

2021 count

669

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Italy

2021 count

598

% of total

2.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

North Macedonia

2021 count

598

% of total

2.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Sri Lanka

2021 count

417

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Philippines

2021 count

339

% of total

1.4%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Iran

2021 count

320

% of total

1.3%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

England

2021 count

302

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)

2021 count

293

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Iraq

2021 count

249

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Data table

Birthplace for South Morang. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).

Birthplace for South Morang. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
Birthplace for South Morang. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Whittlesea (C)%Count%Whittlesea (C)%Countpp
India1,6136.5%7.4%1,4466.0%5.6%+167+0.5pp
Not stated6692.7%4.2%9974.1%6.1%-328-1.4pp
Italy5982.4%2.5%5962.5%3.0%+2-0.1pp
North Macedonia5982.4%2.5%5562.3%2.8%+42+0.1pp
Sri Lanka4171.7%1.6%3881.6%1.6%+29+0.1pp
Philippines3391.4%1.4%2851.2%1.2%+54+0.2pp
Iran3201.3%1.0%1920.8%0.8%+128+0.5pp
England3021.2%1.2%3471.4%1.3%-45-0.2pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)2931.2%1.7%2240.9%1.9%+69+0.3pp
Iraq2491.0%1.3%2020.8%1.2%+47+0.2pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.