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, 51.6% (10,439) of people in Thomastown were born overseas, compared with 37.6% in Whittlesea (C). A further 43.6% (8,823) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Thomastown - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Thomastown in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whittlesea (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Thomastown, with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).
India
2021 count
1,258
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,258
6.2%
-0.1pp
Italy
2021 count
1,201
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,201
5.9%
-0.8pp
North Macedonia
2021 count
1,105
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,105
5.5%
-0.1pp
Vietnam
2021 count
1,062
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,062
5.2%
+0.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
985
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
985
4.9%
-3.1pp
Greece
2021 count
827
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
827
4.1%
-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
396
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
396
2.0%
+0.3pp
Lebanon
2021 count
367
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
367
1.8%
+0.2pp
Iraq
2021 count
329
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
329
1.6%
-0.4pp
Nepal
2021 count
283
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
283
1.4%
+1.0pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
India
-35
-0.1pp
Italy
-177
-0.8pp
North Macedonia
-47
-0.1pp
Vietnam
+29
+0.2pp
Not stated
-650
-3.1pp
Greece
-32
-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+49
+0.3pp
Lebanon
+39
+0.2pp
Iraq
-71
-0.4pp
Nepal
+192
+1.0pp
Data table
Birthplace for Thomastown. 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 | 1,258 | 6.2% | 7.4% | 1,293 | 6.3% | 5.6% | -35 | -0.1pp |
| Italy | 1,201 | 5.9% | 2.5% | 1,378 | 6.7% | 3.0% | -177 | -0.8pp |
| North Macedonia | 1,105 | 5.5% | 2.5% | 1,152 | 5.6% | 2.8% | -47 | -0.1pp |
| Vietnam | 1,062 | 5.2% | 1.6% | 1,033 | 5.0% | 1.6% | +29 | +0.2pp |
| Not stated | 985 | 4.9% | 4.2% | 1,635 | 8.0% | 6.1% | -650 | -3.1pp |
| Greece | 827 | 4.1% | 1.7% | 859 | 4.2% | 1.9% | -32 | -0.1pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 396 | 2.0% | 1.7% | 347 | 1.7% | 1.9% | +49 | +0.3pp |
| Lebanon | 367 | 1.8% | 0.9% | 328 | 1.6% | 0.8% | +39 | +0.2pp |
| Iraq | 329 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 400 | 2.0% | 1.2% | -71 | -0.4pp |
| Nepal | 283 | 1.4% | 0.8% | 91 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +192 | +1.0pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.