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, 21% (45,086) of people in Wollongong (C) were born overseas, compared with 12.2% in Regional NSW. A further 74.9% (160,645) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Wollongong (C) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Wollongong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wollongong (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Not stated
2021 count
8,830
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
8,830
4.1%
-1.7pp
England
2021 count
8,003
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
8,003
3.7%
-0.3pp
North Macedonia
2021 count
2,954
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,954
1.4%
0.0pp
Italy
2021 count
2,317
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,317
1.1%
-0.2pp
India
2021 count
2,315
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
2,315
1.1%
+0.4pp
New Zealand
2021 count
2,313
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,313
1.1%
0.0pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
1,878
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,878
0.9%
-0.6pp
Philippines
2021 count
1,332
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,332
0.6%
+0.1pp
Scotland
2021 count
1,319
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,319
0.6%
-0.1pp
Germany
2021 count
1,023
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,023
0.5%
0.0pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
-2,941
-1.7pp
England
-92
-0.3pp
North Macedonia
+57
0.0pp
Italy
-304
-0.2pp
India
+874
+0.4pp
New Zealand
+152
0.0pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
-1,152
-0.6pp
Philippines
+270
+0.1pp
Scotland
-135
-0.1pp
Germany
-95
0.0pp
Data table
Birthplace for Wollongong (C). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 8,830 | 4.1% | 6.5% | 11,771 | 5.8% | 7.9% | -2,941 | -1.7pp |
| England | 8,003 | 3.7% | 2.8% | 8,095 | 4.0% | 2.8% | -92 | -0.3pp |
| North Macedonia | 2,954 | 1.4% | 0.2% | 2,897 | 1.4% | 0.2% | +57 | 0.0pp |
| Italy | 2,317 | 1.1% | 0.3% | 2,621 | 1.3% | 0.3% | -304 | -0.2pp |
| India | 2,315 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 1,441 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +874 | +0.4pp |
| New Zealand | 2,313 | 1.1% | 1.2% | 2,161 | 1.1% | 1.1% | +152 | 0.0pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 1,878 | 0.9% | 0.3% | 3,030 | 1.5% | 0.4% | -1,152 | -0.6pp |
| Philippines | 1,332 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 1,062 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +270 | +0.1pp |
| Scotland | 1,319 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 1,454 | 0.7% | 0.4% | -135 | -0.1pp |
| Germany | 1,023 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 1,118 | 0.5% | 0.4% | -95 | 0.0pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.