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, 10.5% (640) of people in Whittlesea were born overseas, compared with 37.6% in Whittlesea (C). A further 84.4% (5,137) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Whittlesea - Overseas born (Usual residence)

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

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

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

Whittlesea
Whittlesea (C)

Not stated

2021 count

312

% of total

5.1%

Change from 2016

-2.6pp

England

2021 count

176

% of total

2.9%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Italy

2021 count

75

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

New Zealand

2021 count

49

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

South Africa

2021 count

32

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Malta

2021 count

26

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Greece

2021 count

24

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Germany

2021 count

22

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Philippines

2021 count

22

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Scotland

2021 count

17

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Data table

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

Birthplace for Whittlesea. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
Birthplace for Whittlesea. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Whittlesea (C)%Count%Whittlesea (C)%Countpp
Not stated3125.1%4.2%4287.7%6.1%-116-2.6pp
England1762.9%1.2%1713.1%1.3%+5-0.2pp
Italy751.2%2.5%621.1%3.0%+13+0.1pp
New Zealand490.8%1.1%561.0%1.2%-7-0.2pp
South Africa320.5%0.3%200.4%0.2%+12+0.1pp
Malta260.4%0.4%180.3%0.5%+8+0.1pp
Greece240.4%1.7%150.3%1.9%+9+0.1pp
Germany220.4%0.2%180.3%0.2%+4+0.1pp
Philippines220.4%1.4%130.2%1.2%+9+0.2pp
Scotland170.3%0.2%210.4%0.2%-4-0.1pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.