By Dr Majid Khan (Melbourne):
Australia is one of the world’s most successful immigrant nations. As per the Australian Bureau of Statistics in the report published on 30 April 2025, an estimated 8.6 million residents were born overseas—31.5% of a population of 27.2 million. That scale places Australia among the leading countries globally for migrant stock and makes immigration central to its demography, labour market and social life.
The top ten Diasporas by country of birth
Based on the latest population estimates, the largest overseas-born communities in 2025 were:
- England — 963,600 (5% of the total population)
- India — 916,300 (3.4%)
- China — 700,100 (2.6%)
- New Zealand — 618,000 (2.3%)
- Philippines — 394,400 (1.5%)
- Vietnam — 318,800 (1.2%)
- South Africa — 224,200 (0.8%)
- Nepal — 197,800 (0.7%)
- Malaysia — 183,500 (0.7%)
- Sri Lanka — 172,800 (0.6%)
- Pakistan — 134,720 (0.5 %)
Together, these ten groups account for roughly 15.3% of Australia’s entire population and well over half of all overseas-born residents. Their age profiles help explain why migration is pivotal to workforce renewal: the median age of Nepal-born residents is 29, while the median age of England-born residents is about 60—a contrast that captures both recent inflows and long-established communities.
Settlement patterns vary across the federation. At the 2021 Census, Western Australia recorded the highest share of overseas-born residents (34.1%), while Tasmania recorded the lowest (16.3%). These differences shape local labour markets, housing demand, school enrolments and the mix of cultural and language services required by state and municipal authorities.
Economic roles: skills, jobs and entrepreneurship
Migrants are deeply embedded in sectors with chronic skill shortages. More than 40% of Registered Nurses and Aged & Disabled Careers were born overseas at the last census—far above the all-occupation average—helping to staff hospitals, aged-care homes, disability services and community health providers in every state and territory.
Around one in three small-business owners (~34%) is overseas-born, a share that exceeds migrants’ population weight. This entrepreneurial skew is visible in retail, hospitality, professional services, construction, logistics and food manufacturing, where migrant-owned firms create jobs, expand local supply chains and open new export channels.
International education has rebounded to become one of Australia’s largest exports, generating about A$50–51 billion in 2023/24 when tuition and living expenditure are combined. Major source communities—China, India, Nepal, Vietnam and Malaysia—are prominent on campuses and in CBD job markets, where international students contribute both to demand (rent, transport, retail) and to labour supply in services.
Linked administrative data show migrant taxpayers generating well over A$100 billion in personal income annually even before the post-pandemic migration surge, underscoring the fiscal weight of skilled and long-settled cohorts.
Community Contributions
England (3.5%). Australia’s oldest large diaspora by country of birth. The group now skews older (median age around 60), reflecting earlier migration waves. England-born Australians are prominent in education, health, public administration and the arts, with deep civic participation through volunteering, local associations and heritage preservation. Recent modest growth follows years of gradual decline from a 2013 peak.
India (3.4%). One of the youngest and most highly educated large cohorts. Many hold tertiary qualifications in ICT, engineering, health and business, feeding fast-growing professional services and technology ecosystems in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Rapid growth since 2014 has combined skilled migration with student-to-skilled pathways, strengthening people-to-people links with a key Indo-Pacific partner.
China (2.6%). A long-standing community with strong representation in higher education, research, hospitality and small enterprise. After pandemic-era declines, the China-born resident population recovered in 2023–24 alongside the return of international students. Chinese-Australian organisations play visible roles in business networks, festivals and philanthropy.
New Zealand (2.3%). Trans-Tasman free movement supports a large, mobile workforce across construction, trades, mining, agriculture and services. NZ-born residents help employers adjust to economic cycles, while family and cultural ties sustain dense community networks, sport and arts collaborations.
Philippines (1.5%). A rapidly growing, highly skilled community, particularly in nursing, aged care, disability support, hospitality and customer service. English proficiency and recognised qualifications support swift workplace integration, including in regional centres facing workforce shortages.
Vietnam (1.2%). Rooted in post-1970s refugee resettlement, the Vietnamese-Australian community is now multigenerational. It is prominent in manufacturing, food services, health, small business and civic life, with strong community organisations and a vibrant cultural footprint.
South Africa (0.8%). Skewed toward professional and technical roles across engineering, finance, health and education. Among the most likely to naturalise as Australian citizens within the top-ten cohort, South Africa-born residents have high labour-force participation and strong rates of home ownership.
Nepal (0.7%). One of the fastest-growing groups with a very young median age (29). Initially concentrated in international education, Nepal-born residents often work in retail, hospitality and care while studying, before transitioning into skilled occupations. Community organisations have matured quickly, supporting settlement and entrepreneurship.
Malaysia (0.7%). A diverse community (including Chinese-, Indian- and Malay-heritage Australians) with strong representation in STEM, professional services, higher education and small business, often connected to university alumni networks.
Sri Lanka (0.6%). Significant shares arrive through skilled and education pathways. Sri Lankan-Australians are visible in IT, engineering, accounting, medicine and entrepreneurship, and contribute actively to civic and cultural life.
Pakistan (0.5%). As of June 2025, the Pakistani diaspora in Australia is estimated to number approximately 134,720 individuals, making it the 12th-largest overseas-born community in the country. Pakistani Australians are well-represented in various professional sectors, including healthcare, engineering, information technology, and finance. Overall, the Pakistani diaspora in Australia plays a vital role in enriching the nation’s cultural diversity and contributing to its economic and social fabric.
Integration, Citizenship and Civic Participation
Citizenship pathways matter for belonging, representation and social cohesion. Among permanent migrants, a clear majority had naturalised by 2021, with notable variation by group: South Africa-born residents were among the most likely to have acquired citizenship (around three-quarters), while China-born residents were least likely (about one-third). These differences reflect visa categories, time in country and personal choices rather than questions of loyalty.
Language is another key indicator of service needs and cultural vitality. The leading languages spoken at home other than English include Mandarin (2.7%), Arabic (1.4%), Vietnamese (1.3%), Cantonese (1.2%) and Punjabi (0.9%). This mix guides planning for health interpretation, school language support, emergency communications and electoral outreach.
Why these Diasporas matter for Australia’s outlook
In an ageing society, younger diasporas—especially India and Nepal replenish working-age cohorts and help stabilise dependency ratios. Their concentration in health and care alleviates system-wide pressure.
With about 34% of small-business owners born overseas, migrant enterprise expands product variety, opens export routes, and diffuses international know-how across local supply chains.
Education exports worth A$50–51 billion hinge on student-linked communities that bridge Australia to Asia and the Pacific. Alumni and diaspora business networks amplify Australia’s economic diplomacy and cultural reach.
Naturalisation patterns and language profiles help governments target investment in translation, community safety, public-health messaging and disaster response—practical steps that sustain an inclusive, high-trust society.
Australia’s top ten diasporas now make up more than one in seven residents. Their impact is measurable and immediate: they staff critical services, start businesses at high rates, underwrite a multi-billion-dollar education export sector, and replenish the workforce as the population ages. Debates about migration volumes will continue, but the evidence shows these communities already anchor Australia’s economic capacity, vibrancy and international connections. In short, the story of Australia’s Diasporas is the story of modern diversity, outward-looking and built on the contributions of people from every continent.
