The top countries of birth in Australia change more than most people realise. If you are moving to Australia, it helps to know who else has made the same move, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics tracks this every year. The latest numbers show a genuine shift in who calls Australia home.
How many people in Australia were born overseas
As of 30 June 2025, 8.83 million people living in Australia were born overseas. That is 32.0% of the total population, close to one in three people.
This is one of the highest overseas-born shares of any country in the world, and it has been climbing steadily for years.
The top 10 countries of birth in Australia
Here is the full list, ranked by population as of June 2025:
- India: 971,020
- England: 970,950
- China: 731,540
- New Zealand: 637,680
- Philippines: 412,530
- Vietnam: 326,630
- South Africa: 229,950
- Nepal: 213,580
- Sri Lanka: 184,800
- Malaysia: 184,320
India has taken the top spot for the first time
For decades, England was the single largest source of overseas-born Australians. That changed in 2025. India now leads with 971,020 people, narrowly ahead of England’s 970,950, a gap of just 70 people.
This is the first time on record that England has not held the number one position. It reflects a broader trend: migration to Australia over the past decade has shifted heavily toward South and East Asia, while migration from the United Kingdom has slowed.
What this means if you are planning a move
A large, established community from your home country can make settling in easier. Big communities usually mean more local associations, places of worship, grocery stores carrying familiar food, and informal networks that help with everything from finding a first rental to hearing about job openings before they are advertised.
If you are from India, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal, or Sri Lanka, you are joining one of the largest and fastest-growing migrant communities in the country. These same six countries also show up repeatedly among Australia’s top visa-granting countries, which tracks closely with employer demand for skilled migrants.
For a practical next step, our guide on the Skills in Demand Visa covers how employer sponsorship works today, and our breakdown of 3 pathways to permanent residency walks through what comes after you land.
How this list of countries of birth is measured
The countries of birth in Australia list above comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ population estimates, which count everyone living in Australia by where they were actually born, not by ancestry or citizenship. This is different from visa grant data, which only counts new arrivals in a given year. Looking at countries of birth in Australia this way gives a fuller picture of the migrant communities already established here, built up over decades rather than a single program year.
FAQ
What is the largest country of birth for overseas-born Australians?
India, with 971,020 people as of June 2025, narrowly ahead of England at 970,950. This is the first time India has held the top spot.
What percentage of Australia’s population was born overseas?
32.0% as of June 2025, or 8.83 million people, one of the highest shares in the world.
Has England always been the top country of birth in Australia?
Yes, until 2025. India overtook England for the first time on record this year, ending decades of England holding the top position.
Which Asian countries are in the top 10 countries of birth in Australia?
India, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Malaysia all appear in the top 10, together accounting for millions of overseas-born residents.
