The proportion of Australian residents born in another country is now at its highest point in 132 years.
Almost a third of people living in Australia were born overseas, according to the newly-released data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics covering the year to June 2024.
There were 8.6 million people living in Australia who were born overseas, representing 31.5% of Australia’s total population of 27.2 million. That’s the highest proportion recorded since 1892.
The number of overseas-born residents rose by 396,000 from a year earlier, which was the second-largest yearly increase, topped only by the increase from 2022 to 2023.
That’s more than double the increase in the number of people born in Australia, which rose by 146,000 compared with a year earlier.
Australia is now ranked eighth in the world for the number of overseas-born residents.
People from England represent the largest group of those born overseas, with 963,560 English-born people making up 3.5% of Australia’s population.
This figure has been steadily declining since peaking at just over 1 million people in 2013.
India came in second place with 916,330 Australian residents, followed by China (700,120), New Zealand (617,960) and the Philippines (394,380).
Vietnam (268,070), South Africa (195,140), Nepal (119,060), Malaysia (177,510) and Sri Lanka (137,480) rounded out the top 10 countries of origin of overseas-born residents.
India was the country of birth that had the largest increase in the past decade, with 505,000 more Indian-born people living in Australia than 10 years ago.
The number of people born in China has reached a new record, having previously peaked in 2019 before declining in 2020 and 2021.
Australia’s New Zealand-born population has also reached a record high, rising by 19,510 compared with a year earlier.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, almost 15% of New Zealand’s population resides in Australia, owing to travel arrangements that allow citizens of both nations to live and work in either country without restrictions.
State-level data, which is lagged to the most recent census in 2021, shows the top country of birth varies across Australia.
People from China represent the largest group of overseas-born residents in NSW (261,300), while India was the top country of birth in Victoria (272,300) and the ACT (17,500) and Queensland has the highest number of New Zealanders (229,900).
England was the top country of birth in Western Australia (211,700), South Australia (98,800) and Tasmania (20,400), while the Philippines came out on top in the Northern Territory (7,300).
| State | Top country of birth | Population | Proportion of total state population |
| NSW | China | 261,330 | 3.2% |
| VIC | India | 272,250 | 4.2% |
| QLD | New Zealand | 229,920 | 4.4% |
| SA | England | 98,770 | 5.5% |
| WA | England | 211,730 | 7.7% |
| TAS | England | 20,420 | 3.6% |
| NT | Philippines | 7,320 | 3.0% |
| ACT | India | 17,510 | 3.9% |
Western Australia had the highest proportion of residents born overseas (34.1%) followed by Victoria (31.7%) and New South Wales (31%). Tasmania had the lowest proportion, with 16.3% of residents born overseas.
Recent data from the ABS shows the vast majority of overseas migrants last financial year settled in the capitals.
In the year to June 2024, Melbourne had the highest number of overseas migrants, welcoming 121,240 new arrivals, according to ABS data. Sydney followed closely, with 120,886 overseas migrants.
There were 53,414 overseas migrants in Perth, 44259 in Brisbane, 21,690 in Adelaide, 6246 in Canberra, 2740 in Darwin and 2484 in Hobart last financial year.
Suburb-level population data shows that inner-city areas typically have higher numbers of new migrants, with suburbs with an ample supply of rental properties and proximity to jobs and universities proving popular for overseas migrants.
The suburbs with the most international migrants include the CBDs of both Melbourne and Sydney, as well as Carlton, Clayton, Notting Hill and Box Hill in Melbourne, and Kingsford, Macquarie Park, Marsfield and Chatswood in Sydney.
Migration has shaped as a key issue ahead of this week's federal election, with the Coalition pledging to cut net overseas migration by 100,000 people each year.
Meanwhile, the Labor government has moved to curb international student numbers by slowing visa applications, and placed a two-year ban on foreign buyers purchasing established properties.
New housing supply has consistently fallen short of population growth in recent years. Analysis of ABS data shows 62,000 fewer homes than needed were built last financial year, while dwelling approvals remain below the level required to recoup the recent deficit in housing supply. Rising costs and labor shortages are key reasons not enough homes are being built.
Migrants form an important part of Australia's construction industry, with about 24% of workers in the sector born overseas.
