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AustraliaCommunity profile

Western Australia

Overseas arrivals

857,648 people who were living in Western Australia in 2021 were born overseas, and 13% arrived in Australia within 5 years prior to 2021.

The Year of Arrival data records when the overseas born population arrived in Australia. The data shows the degree to which areas are 'ports' for new overseas arrivals and reveals the role of Western Australia in housing the overseas-born. The number of recent overseas arrivals in an area is often determined by housing affordability, employment opportunities and pre-existing communities located in the area.

Western Australia's Year of Arrival data, when used with Birthplace, Religion and Language Spoken at Home data, is a good indicator of the likely need for services in migrant communities.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'In what year did the person first arrive in Australia to live here for one year or more?'

Overseas arrivals
Western Australia - Overseas born (Usual residence)2021
Year of arrival in AustraliaNumber%Regional Australia %
Arrived in 1960 or earlier32,4083.88.7
1961 to 197071,8948.412.0
1971 to 198069,8848.110.0
1981 to 1990102,07511.910.3
1991 to 200087,67310.28.8
2001 to 2010218,80125.518.7
2011 to 2015142,27916.612.2
2016 to Aug 2021113,15113.215.7
Not stated19,4832.33.5
Total857,648100.0100.0
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the year of arrival for the overseas born population of Western Australia in 2021 compared to Regional Australia shows that there was a smaller proportion of people who arrived before 2001, as well as a smaller proportion of recent overseas arrivals (those who arrived between 2016 to Aug 2021).

Overall, 42.4% of the overseas born population arrived before 2001, and 13% arrived during or after 2016, compared with 49.9% and 15.7% respectively for Regional Australia.

The major differences in year of arrival data in the population between Western Australia and Regional Australia are:

  • A larger percentage of arrivals between 2001 to 2010 (25.5% compared to 18.7%)
  • A larger percentage of arrivals between 2011 to 2015 (16.6% compared to 12.2%)
  • A smaller percentage of arrivals between Arrived in 1960 or earlier (3.8% compared to 8.7%)
  • A smaller percentage of arrivals between 1961 to 1970 (8.4% compared to 12.0%)

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