Population Maps

Australia map

Population maps can be generated online using the Australian Bureau of Statistics TableBuilder program. Maps can be generated for specific population groups at various levels (eg, statistical area, local government area, state suburb, postal area or electoral division).

Maps enable exploration of the extent of concentration and segregation of cities using a range of indicators. A key basis for concentration is economic status. Economic status can be mapped using a number of census variables, including income, occupation, labour force participation, housing costs and educational attainment. The impact of ethnicity on residential distribution can be explored through variables of birthplace, language and ancestry. Language use indicates that there are regions of Melbourne and Sydney where more than 60% of the population speak a language other than English.[1]

The following maps illustrate the distribution of selected birthplace groups for Australia’s five major cities. The 2006 maps were generated by MapStats and the 2011 maps by TableBuilder (which has now replaced MapStats).

Birthplace distribution based on 2006 Census data

	Population in 2006 (est.)	Overseas born	Recent arrivals	Born in North-West Europe	Born in Southern and Eastern Europe	Born in North-East Asia	Born in South-East Asia	Born in North Africa and the Middle East
Sydney	4.28 million	map	map	map	map	map	map	map
Melbourne	3.74 million	map	map	map	map	map	map	map
Brisbane	1.82 million	map	map	map	map	map	map	map
Perth	1.52 million	map	map	map	map	map	map	map
Adelaide	1.15 million	map	map	map	map	map	map	map

Birthplace distribution based on 2011 Census data

	Population in 2011 (est.)	Overseas born	Recent arrivals	Born in North-West Europe	Born in Southern and Eastern Europe	Born in North-East Asia	Born in South-East Asia	Born in North Africa and the Middle East
Sydney	4.61 million	map	map	map	map	map	map	map
Melbourne	4.17 million	map	map	map	map	map	map	map
Brisbane	2.15 million	map	map	map	map	map	map	map
Perth	1.83 million	map	map	map	map	map	map	map
Adelaide	1.26 million	map	map	map	map	map	map	map

Please note: All maps download as pdfs of 158kB to 253kB.

Additional population maps may be generated online using TableBuilder at Australian Bureau of Statistics Census Data. The program requires users to first select a Database (eg, Cultural and Language Diversity) and then a Geographical Area (eg, a suburb) and a Classification (eg, birthplace).

Discussion of population distribution and maps are included in the 2007 and 2009 full reports of the Scanlon Foundation surveys, located on this site. The relevant section of the 2007 report may be accessed by following this link [pdf 3.4MB].

[1] For further discussion, see ‘Residential concentration and dispersal’, chapter 5 in Andrew Markus, James Jupp and Peter McDonald, Australia’s Immigration Revolution, Allen and Unwin, 2009