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, 61.9% (15,805) of people in Chatswood were born overseas, compared with 46.5% in Willoughby (C). A further 34.5% (8,795) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Chatswood - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Chatswood in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Willoughby (C) and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Chatswood, with comparison markers for Willoughby (C).
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
5,141
% of total
20.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
5,141
20.1%
-0.6pp
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
2021 count
1,415
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,415
5.5%
+0.2pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
2021 count
1,099
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
1,099
4.3%
-2.2pp
India
2021 count
1,012
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,012
4.0%
+0.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
921
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
921
3.6%
-2.1pp
Japan
2021 count
644
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
644
2.5%
0.0pp
Malaysia
2021 count
612
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
612
2.4%
+0.4pp
Taiwan
2021 count
607
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
607
2.4%
-0.4pp
England
2021 count
527
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
527
2.1%
0.0pp
Philippines
2021 count
520
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
520
2.0%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-13
-0.6pp
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
+101
+0.2pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
-528
-2.2pp
India
+142
+0.5pp
Not stated
-495
-2.1pp
Japan
+23
0.0pp
Malaysia
+123
+0.4pp
Taiwan
-85
-0.4pp
England
-7
0.0pp
Philippines
+107
+0.3pp
Data table
Birthplace for Chatswood. Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Willoughby (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | pp | |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 5,141 | 20.1% | 11.0% | 5,154 | 20.7% | 10.6% | -13 | -0.6pp |
| Hong Kong (SAR of China) | 1,415 | 5.5% | 3.7% | 1,314 | 5.3% | 3.3% | +101 | +0.2pp |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 1,099 | 4.3% | 2.1% | 1,627 | 6.5% | 3.0% | -528 | -2.2pp |
| India | 1,012 | 4.0% | 3.1% | 870 | 3.5% | 2.5% | +142 | +0.5pp |
| Not stated | 921 | 3.6% | 3.0% | 1,416 | 5.7% | 5.1% | -495 | -2.1pp |
| Japan | 644 | 2.5% | 1.8% | 621 | 2.5% | 1.9% | +23 | 0.0pp |
| Malaysia | 612 | 2.4% | 1.6% | 489 | 2.0% | 1.4% | +123 | +0.4pp |
| Taiwan | 607 | 2.4% | 1.2% | 692 | 2.8% | 1.4% | -85 | -0.4pp |
| England | 527 | 2.1% | 3.6% | 534 | 2.1% | 3.7% | -7 | 0.0pp |
| Philippines | 520 | 2.0% | 1.4% | 413 | 1.7% | 1.2% | +107 | +0.3pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.