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, 34.4% (18,386) of people in Woollahra (A) were born overseas, compared with 38.6% in Greater Sydney. A further 61.3% (32,804) of people were born in Australia.

Section overview

Birthplace - Ranked by size

Woollahra (A) - Overseas born (Usual residence)

This table summarises birthplace for Woollahra (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Woollahra (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Woollahra (A)
Greater Sydney

England

2021 count

3,458

% of total

6.5%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Not stated

2021 count

2,305

% of total

4.3%

Change from 2016

-5.0pp

South Africa

2021 count

2,213

% of total

4.1%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

New Zealand

2021 count

1,429

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)

2021 count

1,099

% of total

2.1%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

United States of America

2021 count

904

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Hong Kong (SAR of China)

2021 count

553

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Germany

2021 count

363

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Italy

2021 count

362

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

France

2021 count

360

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Birthplace for Woollahra (A). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Birthplace for Woollahra (A). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Birthplace for Woollahra (A). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
England3,4586.5%2.9%3,4796.4%3.1%-21+0.1pp
Not stated2,3054.3%4.6%5,0449.3%6.2%-2,739-5.0pp
South Africa2,2134.1%0.8%2,0523.8%0.7%+161+0.3pp
New Zealand1,4292.7%1.6%1,4962.8%1.8%-67-0.1pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)1,0992.1%4.6%7911.5%4.7%+308+0.6pp
United States of America9041.7%0.5%8341.5%0.5%+70+0.2pp
Hong Kong (SAR of China)5531.0%0.9%4410.8%0.8%+112+0.2pp
Germany3630.7%0.3%3880.7%0.4%-250.0pp
Italy3620.7%0.7%3410.6%0.8%+21+0.1pp
France3600.7%0.2%3820.7%0.2%-220.0pp

Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.