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Fact Sheets

Australia's Cultural Diversity

Australia is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse nations in the world resulting from a diverse Indigenous heritage, a British colonial past and extensive immigration from many different countries and cultures. Immigration has been a major contributor to Australia's population of around 19 million, with almost 5.5 million migrants settling in Australia over the past 50 years. The 1996 census showed that:

• 41.1 per cent of all Australians were either born overseas, or had at least one parent born overseas.
• 73.6 per cent of Australians were born in Australia, 8.7 per cent were born overseas in English speaking countries, and 13.3 per cent were born in non-English speaking countries.
• Australians speak over 200 languages including 48 Australian Indigenous languages and come from 232 countries.
• 15.1 per cent of Australians speak a language other than English at home.
• The most common languages spoken other than English are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic and Vietnamese.
• In the last 10 years 1,085,085 settlers have arrived in Australia; more than one quarter of them in the years 1987-88 and 1988-89.
• Australians are affiliated to over 25 different religious denominations.
• Australia's main religion is Christianity (12.6million) followed by Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism.
• At any one time, up to 30 per cent of Australia's total population growth can be attributed to temporary residents, students or visitors.
• By 2021, if current migration trends continue, the proportion of Australians born overseas will have declined from 22.0 per cent to 19.4 per cent.

Derived from

A Nation of Immigrants: A State of Diversity- Migration and Diversity in Australia 1997
Multicultural Affairs Unit Department of Premier and Cabinet Victoria
CESCEO Australia's cultural diversity: Facts and figures

For more information visit the following websites

Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
Australian Bureau of Statistics