People in Greater Melbourne who were born in Thailand

2016 Census Country of birth QuickStats
Area code 2GMEL by 5104
People 13,909
Male 4,725
Female 9,184
Australian citizen 47.9%
Not an Australian citizen 50.6%
Families 5,950
Couples with children 2,839
Couples without children 2,378
One parent families 577
Other families 139
All private dwellings 8,676
Median monthly mortgage repayment $1,884
Median weekly rent paid $351

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People

demographics & education | cultural & language diversity | employment

Demographics & education

People Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Male 4,725 34.0 738,906 48.6 1,322,366 49.3 2,199,597 49.0
Female 9,184 66.0 781,344 51.4 1,361,718 50.7 2,285,616 51.0

In the 2016 Census, there were 13,909 people in Greater Melbourne who were born in Thailand. Of these 34.0% were male and 66.0% were female.

View the data quality statements for: Place of Usual Residence (PURP) Country of birth of person (BPLP)

Age
People
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
0-14 years 1,719 12.4 88,035 5.8 692,777 25.8 819,696 18.3
15-24 years 2,415 17.4 167,349 11.0 402,435 15.0 602,383 13.4
25-34 years 4,291 30.9 309,454 20.4 372,554 13.9 730,345 16.3
35-44 years 3,280 23.6 253,778 16.7 346,115 12.9 639,084 14.2
45-54 years 1,338 9.6 217,347 14.3 333,204 12.4 587,317 13.1
55-64 years 583 4.2 192,089 12.6 252,873 9.4 476,902 10.6
65 years and over 276 2.0 292,188 19.2 284,125 10.6 629,487 14.0
Median age 32 -- 42 -- 31 -- 36 --

Of the population born in Thailand who usually live in Greater Melbourne, 12.4% were aged 0 - 14 years and 2.0% were aged 65 years and over. The median age of people in Greater Melbourne who were born in Thailand was 32 years.

View the data quality statement for Age (AGEP)
Registered marital status
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Married 4,986 40.9 839,703 58.6 823,702 41.4 1,772,724 48.4
Separated 348 2.9 41,002 2.9 54,783 2.8 103,965 2.8
Divorced 794 6.5 99,050 6.9 151,886 7.6 272,040 7.4
Widowed 159 1.3 82,571 5.8 75,727 3.8 173,566 4.7
Never married 5,892 48.4 369,877 25.8 885,214 44.5 1,343,230 36.6

Of people in Greater Melbourne aged 15 years and over who were born in Thailand, 40.9% were married, 2.9% were separated, and 6.5% were divorced.

View the data quality statement for Registered marital status (MSTP)
Education Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Pre-school 112 0.8 6,054 0.4 66,580 2.5 73,041 1.6
Primary 889 6.4 46,500 3.1 304,964 11.4 353,773 7.9
Secondary 1,062 7.6 54,284 3.6 217,839 8.1 274,054 6.1
University or tertiary institution 1,308 9.4 128,037 8.4 157,455 5.9 287,125 6.4
Technical or further education 1,106 7.9 36,191 2.4 43,917 1.6 80,863 1.8
Other 998 7.2 29,682 2.0 19,687 0.7 49,898 1.1
Institution attended, type not stated 315 2.3 28,212 1.9 45,235 1.7 289,156 6.4
Not attending an educational institution 8,123 58.4 1,191,295 78.4 1,828,402 68.1 3,077,303 68.6

Of the population born in Thailand who usually live in Greater Melbourne, 41.6% were attending an educational institution. There were 6.4% in primary school, 7.6% in secondary school and 17.4% in a tertiary or technical institution.

View the data quality statement for Educational institution attendee status (TYSTAP)
Level of highest educational attainment
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Bachelor Degree level and above 4,611 37.9 476,627 33.3 522,582 26.2 1,006,208 27.5
Advanced Diploma and Diploma level 1,097 9.0 141,683 9.9 201,226 10.1 347,014 9.5
Certificate level IV 223 1.8 26,268 1.8 69,557 3.5 96,787 2.6
Certificate level III 726 6.0 110,128 7.7 256,226 12.9 373,322 10.2
Year 12 2,472 20.3 266,361 18.6 356,086 17.9 630,941 17.2
Year 11 424 3.5 51,591 3.6 148,662 7.5 203,582 5.6
Year 10 626 5.1 76,855 5.4 166,118 8.3 248,009 6.8
Certificate level II 18 0.1 837 0.1 1,123 0.1 1,999 0.1
Certificate level I 4 0.0 222 0.0 161 0.0 387 0.0
Year 9 or below 1,104 9.1 144,621 10.1 141,989 7.1 294,678 8.0
No educational attainment 194 1.6 37,248 2.6 4,987 0.3 43,515 1.2
Not stated 407 3.3 61,306 4.3 75,305 3.8 331,859 9.1

Of the population born in Thailand who usually live in Greater Melbourne, 20.3% reported having completed Year 12 as their highest level of educational attainment, 7.8% had completed a Certificate III or IV and 9.0% had completed an Advanced Diploma or Diploma.

View the data quality statement for Level of highest educational attainment (HEAP)

Cultural & language diversity

Year of arrival Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Before 1941 0 0.0 2,014 0.1 -- -- -- --
1941 - 1950 3 0.0 17,391 1.1 -- -- -- --
1951 - 1960 12 0.1 84,946 5.6 -- -- -- --
1961 - 1970 46 0.3 140,296 9.2 -- -- -- --
1971 - 1980 312 2.2 118,643 7.8 -- -- -- --
1981 - 1990 1,533 11.0 181,111 11.9 -- -- -- --
1991 - 2000 1,617 11.6 180,171 11.9 -- -- -- --
2001 - 2005 1,556 11.2 139,040 9.1 -- -- -- --
2006 - 2010 3,283 23.6 249,780 16.4 -- -- -- --
2011 - 2016 4,817 34.6 356,641 23.5 -- -- -- --
Born in Australia -- -- -- -- 2,684,080 -- -- --

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Thailand, 34.6% arrived in Australia from 2011 - 2016 and 23.6% from 2006 - 2010.

View the data quality statement for Year of arrival in Australia (YARP)
Citizenship Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Australian citizen 6,665 47.9 882,758 58.1 2,629,244 98.0 3,568,816 79.6
Not an Australian citizen 7,033 50.6 613,262 40.3 20,506 0.8 638,201 14.2

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Thailand, 47.9% were Australian citizens.

View the data quality statement for Australian citizenship (CITP)
Birthplace of spouse or partner Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Spouse or partner born overseas 3,406 57.3 670,684 77.7 172,894 17.6 848,357 45.8
Spouse or partner born in Australia 2,406 40.5 172,892 20.0 786,331 80.1 962,432 51.9

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Thailand and had a spouse or partner, 57.3% had a spouse or partner who was born overseas and 40.5% had a spouse or partner born in Australia.

Note: Total does not include those spouses or partners who did not state their country of birth.

View the data quality statements for: Country of birth of person (BPLP) Relationship in household (RLHP) Family/household reference person indicator (RPIP)

Religious affiliation, top responses
Results may include 'nfd' for 'not further defined'
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Buddhism 9,368 67.4 127,361 8.4 40,955 1.5 170,553 3.8
No Religion, so described 1,523 11.0 380,049 25.0 996,574 37.1 1,391,233 31.0
Baptist 797 5.7 25,315 1.7 32,670 1.2 58,780 1.3
Catholic 474 3.4 329,088 21.6 703,050 26.2 1,050,312 23.4
Islam 403 2.9 114,488 7.5 67,791 2.5 186,654 4.2

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Thailand, the most common responses to the religion question were Buddhism 67.4%, No Religion, so described 11.0%, Baptist 5.7%, Catholic 3.4% and Islam 2.9%.

View the data quality statement for Religious affiliation (RELP)
English language proficiency Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Speaks English only 2,386 17.2 461,859 30.4 2,284,754 85.1 2,781,188 62.0
Speaks other language and speaks English:  null  null  null  null  null  null  null  null
Very well or well 9,055 65.1 844,460 55.5 334,475 12.5 1,198,085 26.7
Not well or not at all 2,371 17.0 202,613 13.3 44,050 1.6 251,543 5.6

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Thailand, 17.2% spoke English only at home. A further 65.1% spoke another language but also spoke English very well or well.

View the data quality statement for Proficiency in spoken English/language (ENGLP)

Employment

Employment
Labour force, people aged 15 years and over
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Worked full-time 3,492 43.9 491,360 58.0 809,894 58.1 1,315,635 58.0
Worked part-time 3,316 41.7 246,309 29.1 441,068 31.6 695,178 30.6
Away from work 347 4.4 37,195 4.4 64,836 4.6 104,679 4.6
Unemployed 801 10.1 72,462 8.6 79,210 5.7 153,625 6.8
Not in the labour force 4,153 34.1 569,448 39.8 581,610 29.2 1,179,140 32.2

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Thailand and who were in the labour force, 43.9% worked full-time, 41.7% worked part-time and 10.1% were unemployed.

The ABS Labour Force Survey provides the official estimates of Australia's unemployment rate. More information about Census and labour force status is provided in Understanding the Census and Census Data.

View the data quality statement for Labour force status (LFSP)
Employment - hours worked
Labour force, people aged 15 years and over
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
1-15 hours per week 1,111 15.5 75,578 9.8 169,383 12.9 247,403 11.7
16-24 hours per week 1,361 19.0 87,489 11.3 129,431 9.8 219,460 10.4
25-34 hours per week 839 11.7 83,237 10.7 142,250 10.8 228,318 10.8
35-39 hours per week 1,432 20.0 176,184 22.7 225,279 17.1 406,480 19.2
40 hours or more per week 2,057 28.8 315,172 40.7 584,617 44.4 909,156 43.0

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Thailand and who were employed, 28.8% worked 40 hours or more per week and 20.0% worked 35-39 hours per week.

View the data quality statement for Hours worked (HRSP)
Occupation, top responses
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Community and Personal Service Workers 1,635 22.8 81,527 10.5 132,284 10.1 216,447 10.2
Labourers 1,294 18.1 81,945 10.6 85,691 6.5 170,451 8.1
Technicians and Trades Workers 1,250 17.5 92,059 11.9 170,977 13.0 266,855 12.6
Professionals 843 11.8 200,195 25.8 324,236 24.6 528,261 25.0
Clerical and Administrative Workers 664 9.3 94,154 12.2 195,958 14.9 293,226 13.9

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Thailand, the most common responses for occupation were Community and Personal Service Workers 22.8%, Labourers 18.1%, Technicians and Trades Workers 17.5%, Professionals 11.8% and Clerical and Administrative Workers 9.3%.

View the data quality statement for Occupation (OCCP)
Industry of employment, top responses
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Cafes and Restaurants 1,625 23.1 31,162 4.0 25,229 1.9 56,874 2.7
Other Allied Health Services 462 6.6 5,109 0.7 9,521 0.7 14,761 0.7
Accommodation 214 3.0 7,539 1.0 6,257 0.5 13,923 0.7
Building and Other Industrial Cleaning Services 191 2.7 15,456 2.0 9,084 0.7 25,015 1.2
Aged Care Residential Services 152 2.2 20,371 2.6 15,336 1.2 36,254 1.7

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Thailand, the most common responses for industry of employment were Cafes and Restaurants 23.1%, Other Allied Health Services 6.6%, Accommodation 3.0%, Building and Other Industrial Cleaning Services 2.7% and Aged Care Residential Services 2.2%.

View the data quality statement for Industry of employment (INDP)
Median weekly income
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Personal 414 -- 568 -- 750 -- 673 --
Family 1,557 -- 1,659 -- 2,084 -- 1,826 --
Household 1,597 -- 1,501 -- 1,742 -- 1,542 --

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Thailand, the personal weekly median income was $414. Family median weekly income was $1,557 and Household median weekly income was $1,597.

Median personal weekly income for persons aged 15 years and over born in the selected country. Excludes those who did not state an income.

Family for the selected country of birth is determined by the reference person and/or their spouse/partner's response to country of birth. Median family income excludes families where at least one family member aged 15 years and over did not state an income.

Household for the selected country of birth is determined by the response of any household member (enumerated in the dwelling) to country of birth. Median household income excludes households where at least one member aged 15 years and over did not state an income.

View the data quality statements for: Total personal income (INCP) Total family income (FINF) Total household income (HIND)

Travel to work
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Car 3,809 53.2 472,059 60.9 871,853 66.3 1,360,705 64.3
Bus or train 1,060 14.8 95,644 12.3 100,929 7.7 198,432 9.4
Other 1,455 20.3 114,295 14.8 148,471 11.3 265,178 12.5

In Greater Melbourne 53.2% of employed people who were born in Thailand travelled to work on census day by car, while 14.8% travelled by bus or train.

View the data quality statement for Method of travel to work (MTWP)
Unpaid work
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Did unpaid domestic work (last week) 7,477 61.4 946,807 66.1 1,523,581 76.5 2,500,489 68.2
Cared for child/children (last two weeks) 3,156 25.9 414,440 28.9 581,551 29.2 1,009,000 27.5
Provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability (last two weeks) 879 7.2 154,722 10.8 251,503 12.6 413,611 11.3
Did voluntary work through an organisation or group (last 12 months) 1,253 10.3 213,351 14.9 425,535 21.4 645,439 17.6

In Greater Melbourne 61.4% of people who were born in Thailand did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, and 25.9% cared for a child or children in the two weeks before the census.

View the data quality statements for: Unpaid domestic work (DOMP) Unpaid child care (CHCAREP) Unpaid assistance (UNCAREP) Voluntary work (VOLWP)

Unpaid domestic work, number of hours
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Less than 5 hours per week 2,694 22.1 309,069 21.6 577,595 29.0 896,253 24.5
5 to 14 hours per week 2,733 22.4 354,321 24.7 563,609 28.3 928,683 25.3
15 to 29 hours per week 1,122 9.2 156,447 10.9 222,560 11.2 383,944 10.5
30 hours or more per week 923 7.6 126,973 8.9 159,812 8.0 291,605 8.0

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Thailand and who did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, 22.4% worked 5 to 14 hours, 9.2% worked 15 to 29 hours and 7.6% worked 30 hours or more.

View the data quality statement for Unpaid domestic work, number of hours (DOMP)

Families

family composition | employment status of couple families

Family composition

For information on how migrant families are classified, see the User guide for QuickStats

Family composition Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Couple family without children 2,378 40.0 222,393 36.1 172,184 32.6 400,693 34.5
Couple family with children 2,839 47.7 310,537 50.5 246,060 46.6 563,155 48.5
One parent family 577 9.7 72,148 11.7 97,698 18.5 174,769 15.0
Other family 139 2.3 10,437 1.7 12,134 2.3 23,028 2.0
Families with a child under 5 1,457 24.6 114,731 18.6 93,757 17.8 208,494 17.9
Families with a child aged 0-15 years 2,690 45.4 238,546 38.8 220,599 41.8 459,144 39.5

These statistics are for families in Greater Melbourne. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in Thailand. Of these families, 47.7% were couple families with children, 40.0% were couple families without children and 9.7% were one parent families.

Note: Totals for families with a child under 5 and for families with a child aged 0-15 years does not include those families where the reference person and/or their spouse/partner did not state their country of birth.

View the data quality statement for Family composition (FMCF)

Employment status of couple families

Employment status of couple families
Labour force, people aged 15 years and over
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Both employed, worked full-time 1,177 22.6 110,161 20.7 99,420 23.8 211,039 21.9
Both employed, worked part-time 289 5.5 22,269 4.2 15,667 3.7 38,293 4.0
One employed full-time, one part-time 1,013 19.4 98,916 18.6 117,564 28.1 218,082 22.6
One employed full-time, other not working 1,341 25.7 97,504 18.3 61,103 14.6 160,094 16.6
One employed part-time, other not working 449 8.6 37,202 7.0 20,636 4.9 58,500 6.1
Both not working 519 10.0 116,751 21.9 55,534 13.3 176,901 18.4
Other (includes away from work) 259 5.0 24,751 4.6 23,777 5.7 49,288 5.1
Labour force status not stated (by one or both parents in a couple family) 165 3.2 25,370 4.8 24,541 5.9 51,648 5.4

These statistics are for families in Greater Melbourne. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in Thailand. Of these families, 22.6% of families had both parents working full-time, 19.4% of families had one parent working full-time and one parent working part-time, and 10.0% of families stated that both parents were not working.

View the data quality statement for Labour force status of parents / partners in families (LFSF)

Dwellings

dwelling structure | mortgage & rent | household composition

Dwelling structure

For information on how migrant households are classified, see the User guide for QuickStats

Dwelling tables exclude visitor only and other non-classifiable households

Dwelling structure
Occupied private dwellings
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Separate house 5,232 60.3 519,796 66.0 836,192 71.8 1,067,637 67.8
Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc 1,375 15.8 131,437 16.7 189,884 16.3 264,404 16.8
Flat or apartment 1,971 22.7 130,726 16.6 131,811 11.3 231,297 14.7
Other dwelling 53 0.6 2,901 0.4 4,332 0.4 6,400 0.4

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Greater Melbourne. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Thailand, 60.3% were a separate house, 22.7% were a flat or apartment, and 15.8% were a semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc.

View the data quality statement for Dwelling structure (STRD)
Number of bedrooms
Occupied private dwellings
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
None (includes bedsitters) 55 0.6 3,935 0.5 3,179 0.3 6,732 0.4
1 bedroom 639 7.4 45,891 5.8 49,225 4.2 90,018 5.7
2 bedrooms 2,031 23.4 155,219 19.7 213,998 18.4 319,669 20.3
3 bedrooms 3,481 40.1 325,106 41.3 502,420 43.1 662,460 42.1
4 or more bedrooms 2,250 25.9 239,609 30.4 376,179 32.3 459,373 29.2
Number of bedrooms not stated 222 2.6 17,598 2.2 20,217 1.7 36,215 2.3

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Greater Melbourne. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Thailand, 23.4% had two bedrooms, 40.1% had three bedrooms and 25.9% had four or more bedrooms.

View the data quality statement for Number of bedrooms in a private dwelling (BEDD)

Mortgage & rent

Mortgage and rent
Occupied private dwellings
Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Owned outright 1,427 16.5 235,287 29.9 343,317 29.5 479,374 30.4
Owned with a mortgage 3,157 36.4 269,052 34.2 475,545 40.8 567,574 36.0
Rented 3,804 43.9 257,241 32.7 313,426 26.9 472,462 30.0
Other tenure type 51 0.6 5,105 0.6 8,952 0.8 12,777 0.8
Tenure type not stated 234 2.7 20,674 2.6 23,983 2.1 42,294 2.7
Median monthly mortgage repayment 1,884 -- 1,870 -- 1,800 -- 1,800 --
Median weekly rent paid 351 -- 351 -- 351 -- 350 --

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Greater Melbourne. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Thailand, 16.5% were owned outright, 36.4% were owned with a mortgage and 43.9% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,884 and the median weekly rent paid was $351.

Median monthly mortgage repayment relates only to occupied private dwellings that are owned with a mortgage (including those being purchased under a rent/buy scheme). It excludes 'visitor only' and 'other non-classifiable' households and dwellings that did not state a monthly repayment value.

Median weekly rent paid relates to occupied private dwellings being rented (including rent-free accommodation). It excludes 'visitor only' and 'other non-classifiable' households and dwellings that did not state a weekly payment value.

View the data quality statements for: Tenure type (TEND) Rent weekly payments (RNTD) Mortgage monthly repayments (MRED)

Household composition

Household composition Born in Thailand % Born in Thailand All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
One family households 6,584 75.9 584,453 74.2 866,756 74.4 1,098,635 69.8
Multiple family households 588 6.8 24,611 3.1 26,083 2.2 30,920 2.0
Single (or lone) person households 680 7.8 132,615 16.8 224,392 19.3 366,005 23.2
Group households 826 9.5 45,676 5.8 47,995 4.1 78,913 5.0

All occupants of a private dwelling complete one census form and are counted as a household. 'Born in Thailand' includes households in Greater Melbourne where at least one person was born in Thailand. Of those households, 75.9% were one family households and 7.8% were lone person households.

View the data quality statement for Household composition (HHCD)

Small random adjustments have been made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from the table totals. For further information, go to the User Guide for QuickStats.

Data reported for Australia and Other Territories now includes Norfolk Island, following an amendment to the Acts Interpretation Act, 1901. Because Norfolk Island has not previously been included in the Census, any 2011 benchmarks will not include Norfolk Island.