Countries of birth in Victoria tell a striking story. Victoria has the highest overseas-born share of Australia’s three most populous states, and it is led by the same country that recently overtook England nationally: India.
How many people in Victoria were born overseas
At the 2021 Census, Victoria’s population was 6.5 million people. Of those, 65.0% were born in Australia, which means 30.0% of the state, close to 2 million people, were born overseas.
That is the highest overseas-born share among NSW, Victoria and Queensland, and it sits close to the national figure of 32.0% recorded in 2025.
The top countries of birth in Victoria
Ranked by population at the 2021 Census, excluding those born in Australia:
- India: 258,193 people (4.0% of the state population)
- England: 174,552 people (2.7%)
- China (excludes SARs and Taiwan): 171,447 people (2.6%)
- New Zealand: 99,344 people (1.5%)
- Vietnam: 93,598 people (1.4%)
India is well clear of second-placed England in Victoria, and the ABS notes this represents real growth, up from 2.9% of the state’s population in 2016 to 4.0% in 2021.
Why India leads so clearly in Victoria
Melbourne has grown into one of the most popular Australian cities for Indian migrants over the past decade, driven by strong university enrolments, an established Indian community, and consistent demand for skilled workers across IT, healthcare, engineering and finance.
Vietnam’s appearance in Victoria’s top five, a country that does not make the top five in NSW or Queensland, also reflects Melbourne’s long-standing Vietnamese community, one of the largest and most established in the country.
If Victoria is on your shortlist, our Skills in Demand Visa guide covers how employer sponsorship works, and our list of engineering recruitment agencies in Australia is a useful starting point if your background is in a technical field.
What the countries of birth in Victoria data means for you
The countries of birth in Victoria figures matter beyond curiosity. For migrants deciding where to settle, seeing which countries of birth in Victoria show up most often is a signal of where established communities, cultural familiarity and word-of-mouth job leads are strongest.
Employers looking to attract skilled migrants can use the same countries of birth in Victoria breakdown to understand where candidate pools are concentrated, and which language or cultural considerations might matter in recruitment and onboarding.
It is worth remembering the 2021 Census is now a few years old. The next full count will refresh these countries of birth in Victoria figures, but the broad pattern, a strong Indian, English and Chinese-born community, is unlikely to shift dramatically in the short term.
Taken together, these figures give a clear, evidence-based picture of migration into Victoria rather than a general impression, which is useful whether you are planning a move yourself or building a workforce strategy around it.
FAQ
What is the most common country of birth in Victoria after Australia?
India, with 258,193 people at the 2021 Census, well ahead of England at 174,552 and China at 171,447.
What percentage of Victoria’s population was born overseas?
About 30.0% at the 2021 Census, close to 2 million people out of a total population of 6.5 million, the highest share among NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
Has India always been the top country of birth in Victoria?
It has grown steadily. India’s share of Victoria’s population rose from 2.9% in 2016 to 4.0% in 2021, and it holds the top spot for overseas-born residents in the state.
Where does this data come from?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2021 Census, the most recent official count that breaks country of birth figures down by state.
