Australia’s foreign-born population grew to 30.7% of the total in 2023, a higher proportion than in any other year since Federation, new official figures have revealed.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released data this week showing that as of June last year Australia’s overseas-born population hit 8.2 million, after increasing by 494,000 people in the year to 2023 due to Labor’s mass immigration policy.
That pushed the proportion of Australia’s population born overseas to 30.7%, up from 29.5% in 2022 and the previous high of 29.9% im 2020, the ABS said.
England, India, China and New Zealand were the countries of birth with the largest numbers, and those born in India recorded the largest increased since 2013.
Those born in England are still the largest group, but that population has been steadily falling since 2013, going from 4.4% of the Australian population to 3.6% over the past 10 years.
During the same period the Indian population grew from 378,480 in 2013 to 845,800 in 2023, and from 1.6% of the population to 3.2%.
Those born in China (not including Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan) went from 432,400 and 1.9% of the population in 2013, to 655,760 and 2.5% in 2023.
The fourth largest group, New Zealanders, grew in numerical terms but fell as a percentage, from 585,390 and 2.5% of the population in 2013 to 598,090 and 2.2%.
The countries of birth with the largest increases along with India (467,000) and China (223,000), were Nepal (144,000) and the Philippines (143,000).
Western Australia had the highest proportion of people born overseas at 34%, and Tasmania had the lowest at 16%.
The top countries of birth by state were:
- NSW – China, 261,330, 3.2% of the population
- Victoria – India, 272,250, 4.2%
- Queenland – New Zealand, 229,920, 4.4%
- South Australia – England, 98.770, 5.5%
- Western Australia – England, 211,730, 7.7%
- Tasmania – England, 20,420, 3.6%
- Northern Territory – Philippines, 7,320, 3%
- Australian Capital Territory – India, 17,510, 3.9%
Australia’s 29.9% foreign-born population in 2020 was a higher proportion than in Canada (21.3%), the United States (15.3%), Germany (18.8%), the United Kingdom (13.8%), and France (13.1%) in the same year.
And with ongoing mass immigration, including record numbers of overseas arrivals in the first two months of 2024, Australia’s foreign-born population looks likely to represent an even larger proportion by June this year.
