People in South Australia who were born in China

2016 Census Country of birth QuickStats
Area code 4 by 6101
People 24,609
Male 11,109
Female 13,500
Australian citizen 24.1%
Not an Australian citizen 75.1%
Families 7,557
Couples with children 3,520
Couples without children 3,084
One parent families 863
Other families 94
All private dwellings 11,051
Median monthly mortgage repayment $1,647
Median weekly rent paid $340

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People

demographics & education | cultural & language diversity | employment

Demographics & education

People Born in China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Male 11,109 45.1 185,620 48.3 590,563 49.5 825,997 49.3
Female 13,500 54.9 198,482 51.7 601,986 50.5 850,652 50.7

In the 2016 Census, there were 24,609 people in South Australia who were born in China. Of these 45.1% were male and 54.9% were female.

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

Age
People
Born in China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
0-14 years 1,195 4.9 23,344 6.1 257,178 21.6 293,001 17.5
15-24 years 7,048 28.6 36,446 9.5 162,225 13.6 208,676 12.4
25-34 years 7,769 31.6 54,771 14.3 151,004 12.7 218,107 13.0
35-44 years 3,503 14.2 52,383 13.6 145,067 12.2 209,468 12.5
45-54 years 2,206 9.0 56,567 14.7 156,018 13.1 226,891 13.5
55-64 years 1,565 6.4 56,865 14.8 142,768 12.0 213,923 12.8
65 years and over 1,322 5.4 103,710 27.0 178,292 15.0 306,591 18.3
Median age 29 -- 49 -- 36 -- 40 --

Of the population born in China who usually live in South Australia, 4.9% were aged 0 - 14 years and 5.4% were aged 65 years and over. The median age of people in South Australia who were born in China was 29 years.

View the data quality statement for Age (AGEP)
Registered marital status
People aged 15 years and over
Born in China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Married 11,047 47.2 209,749 58.1 409,745 43.8 659,638 47.7
Separated 294 1.3 11,331 3.1 29,665 3.2 44,199 3.2
Divorced 897 3.8 32,676 9.1 85,926 9.2 127,916 9.2
Widowed 368 1.6 29,066 8.1 47,202 5.0 83,281 6.0
Never married 10,804 46.2 77,926 21.6 362,823 38.8 468,621 33.9

Of people in South Australia aged 15 years and over who were born in China, 47.2% were married, 1.3% were separated, and 3.8% were divorced.

View the data quality statement for Registered marital status (MSTP)
Education Born in China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Pre-school 92 0.4 1,286 0.3 18,878 1.6 20,292 1.2
Primary 653 2.7 14,410 3.8 128,101 10.7 143,307 8.5
Secondary 1,391 5.7 13,998 3.6 78,550 6.6 93,259 5.6
University or tertiary institution 7,333 29.8 27,623 7.2 50,681 4.2 78,779 4.7
Technical or further education 1,249 5.1 10,320 2.7 20,715 1.7 31,394 1.9
Other 393 1.6 4,162 1.1 7,195 0.6 11,501 0.7
Institution attended, type not stated 308 1.3 8,047 2.1 25,206 2.1 106,438 6.3
Not attending an educational institution 13,182 53.6 304,261 79.2 863,216 72.4 1,191,695 71.1

Of the population born in China who usually live in South Australia, 46.4% were attending an educational institution. There were 2.7% in primary school, 5.7% in secondary school and 34.9% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Bachelor Degree level and above 10,641 45.5 95,156 26.4 159,374 17.0 256,510 18.5
Advanced Diploma and Diploma level 1,961 8.4 33,418 9.3 80,275 8.6 115,102 8.3
Certificate level IV 153 0.7 7,731 2.1 34,596 3.7 42,793 3.1
Certificate level III 540 2.3 41,266 11.4 144,099 15.4 188,790 13.6
Year 12 6,482 27.7 59,780 16.6 151,870 16.2 214,813 15.5
Year 11 634 2.7 21,750 6.0 104,668 11.2 128,782 9.3
Year 10 717 3.1 27,794 7.7 107,554 11.5 138,607 10.0
Certificate level II 3 0.0 258 0.1 793 0.1 1,077 0.1
Certificate level I 3 0.0 87 0.0 83 0.0 174 0.0
Year 9 or below 1,005 4.3 35,499 9.8 80,626 8.6 119,572 8.6
No educational attainment 350 1.5 8,797 2.4 1,867 0.2 11,000 0.8
Not stated 485 2.1 18,291 5.1 43,997 4.7 129,257 9.3

Of the population born in China who usually live in South Australia, 27.7% reported having completed Year 12 as their highest level of educational attainment, 2.9% had completed a Certificate III or IV and 8.4% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Before 1941 4 0.0 637 0.2 -- -- -- --
1941 - 1950 27 0.1 8,078 2.1 -- -- -- --
1951 - 1960 155 0.6 37,710 9.8 -- -- -- --
1961 - 1970 139 0.6 63,057 16.4 -- -- -- --
1971 - 1980 271 1.1 35,564 9.3 -- -- -- --
1981 - 1990 867 3.5 35,722 9.3 -- -- -- --
1991 - 2000 1,216 4.9 30,416 7.9 -- -- -- --
2001 - 2005 2,304 9.4 25,701 6.7 -- -- -- --
2006 - 2010 6,449 26.2 59,476 15.5 -- -- -- --
2011 - 2016 12,062 49.0 75,264 19.6 -- -- -- --
Born in Australia -- -- -- -- 1,192,551 -- -- --

In South Australia of people who were born in China, 49.0% arrived in Australia from 2011 - 2016 and 26.2% from 2006 - 2010.

View the data quality statement for Year of arrival in Australia (YARP)
Citizenship Born in China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Australian citizen 5,925 24.1 238,641 62.1 1,172,127 98.3 1,435,503 85.6
Not an Australian citizen 18,491 75.1 138,522 36.1 3,812 0.3 143,422 8.6

In South Australia of people who were born in China, 24.1% were Australian citizens.

View the data quality statement for Australian citizenship (CITP)
Birthplace of spouse or partner Born in China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Spouse or partner born overseas 9,718 88.9 144,813 67.9 63,027 13.2 209,633 30.2
Spouse or partner born in Australia 785 7.2 63,025 29.6 401,040 84.1 466,084 67.1

In South Australia of people who were born in China and had a spouse or partner, 88.9% had a spouse or partner who was born overseas and 7.2% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
No Religion, so described 18,695 76.0 102,186 26.6 483,725 40.6 594,313 35.4
Buddhism 2,119 8.6 20,155 5.2 10,601 0.9 31,289 1.9
Christian, nfd 632 2.6 12,480 3.2 33,350 2.8 46,531 2.8
Catholic 377 1.5 77,124 20.1 218,490 18.3 301,034 18.0
Baptist 355 1.4 6,471 1.7 19,568 1.6 26,476 1.6

In South Australia of people who were born in China, the most common responses to the religion question were No Religion, so described 76.0%, Buddhism 8.6%, Christian, nfd 2.6%, Catholic 1.5% and Baptist 1.4%.

View the data quality statement for Religious affiliation (RELP)
English language proficiency Born in China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Speaks English only 774 3.1 183,764 47.8 1,107,941 92.9 1,311,533 78.2
Speaks other language and speaks English:  null  null  null  null  null  null  null  null
Very well or well 17,291 70.3 159,649 41.6 64,397 5.4 227,946 13.6
Not well or not at all 6,420 26.1 37,789 9.8 9,483 0.8 48,258 2.9

In South Australia of people who were born in China, 3.1% spoke English only at home. A further 70.3% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Worked full-time 4,967 43.7 100,551 52.7 329,171 54.4 435,110 53.9
Worked part-time 3,995 35.2 63,699 33.4 203,140 33.6 270,409 33.5
Away from work 510 4.5 8,827 4.6 30,779 5.1 40,582 5.0
Unemployed 1,885 16.6 17,724 9.3 41,799 6.9 60,488 7.5
Not in the labour force 11,972 51.1 166,215 46.1 322,259 34.5 501,988 36.3

In South Australia of people who were born in China and who were in the labour force, 43.7% worked full-time, 35.2% worked part-time and 16.6% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
1-15 hours per week 1,506 15.9 20,539 11.9 73,624 13.1 95,282 12.8
16-24 hours per week 1,256 13.3 19,523 11.3 56,673 10.1 77,283 10.4
25-34 hours per week 1,235 13.0 23,641 13.7 72,840 12.9 97,844 13.1
35-39 hours per week 2,318 24.5 41,196 23.8 110,394 19.6 153,550 20.6
40 hours or more per week 2,647 27.9 59,351 34.3 218,782 38.9 281,566 37.7

In South Australia of people who were born in China and who were employed, 27.9% worked 40 hours or more per week and 24.5% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Professionals 2,737 28.9 40,827 23.6 109,056 19.4 151,091 20.3
Labourers 1,390 14.7 23,272 13.4 58,082 10.3 82,850 11.1
Community and Personal Service Workers 1,204 12.7 23,434 13.5 64,965 11.5 89,625 12.0
Managers 1,176 12.4 19,582 11.3 73,319 13.0 94,075 12.6
Technicians and Trades Workers 1,033 10.9 22,286 12.9 76,451 13.6 100,142 13.4

In South Australia of people who were born in China, the most common responses for occupation were Professionals 28.9%, Labourers 14.7%, Community and Personal Service Workers 12.7%, Managers 12.4% and Technicians and Trades Workers 10.9%.

View the data quality statement for Occupation (OCCP)
Industry of employment, top responses
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Cafes and Restaurants 1,021 10.9 5,791 3.3 9,612 1.7 15,530 2.1
Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 473 5.0 9,029 5.2 21,121 3.8 30,463 4.1
Aged Care Residential Services 371 3.9 8,878 5.1 13,414 2.4 22,642 3.0
Takeaway Food Services 351 3.7 2,904 1.7 9,955 1.8 12,955 1.7
Higher Education 349 3.7 3,999 2.3 7,120 1.3 11,187 1.5

In South Australia of people who were born in China, the most common responses for industry of employment were Cafes and Restaurants 10.9%, Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 5.0%, Aged Care Residential Services 3.9%, Takeaway Food Services 3.7% and Higher Education 3.7%.

View the data quality statement for Industry of employment (INDP)
Median weekly income
People aged 15 years and over
Born in China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Personal 232 -- 495 -- 644 -- 600 --
Family 1,103 -- 1,413 -- 1,633 -- 1,510 --
Household 1,058 -- 1,206 -- 1,313 -- 1,206 --

In South Australia of people who were born in China, the personal weekly median income was $232. Family median weekly income was $1,103 and Household median weekly income was $1,058.

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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Car 6,041 63.8 120,432 69.6 400,547 71.1 528,083 70.8
Bus or train 1,245 13.1 13,537 7.8 26,282 4.7 40,182 5.4
Other 937 9.9 15,098 8.7 42,567 7.6 58,448 7.8

In South Australia 63.8% of employed people who were born in China travelled to work on census day by car, while 13.1% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Did unpaid domestic work (last week) 13,015 55.6 249,604 69.2 718,027 76.8 982,036 71.0
Cared for child/children (last two weeks) 5,930 25.3 98,137 27.2 276,845 29.6 380,737 27.5
Provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability (last two weeks) 1,928 8.2 43,082 11.9 122,051 13.0 168,496 12.2
Did voluntary work through an organisation or group (last 12 months) 2,946 12.6 63,455 17.6 228,175 24.4 295,670 21.4

In South Australia 55.6% of people who were born in China did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, and 25.3% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Less than 5 hours per week 4,635 19.8 69,118 19.2 226,777 24.2 299,651 21.7
5 to 14 hours per week 4,674 20.0 97,322 27.0 276,908 29.6 379,617 27.4
15 to 29 hours per week 2,164 9.2 47,570 13.2 124,477 13.3 174,791 12.6
30 hours or more per week 1,545 6.6 35,599 9.9 89,867 9.6 127,972 9.2

In South Australia of people who were born in China and who did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, 20.0% worked 5 to 14 hours, 9.2% worked 15 to 29 hours and 6.6% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Couple family without children 3,084 40.8 72,331 44.5 103,161 37.7 178,588 40.2
Couple family with children 3,520 46.6 70,264 43.3 112,124 41.0 184,733 41.6
One parent family 863 11.4 17,930 11.0 53,085 19.4 73,128 16.5
Other family 94 1.2 1,908 1.2 5,184 1.9 7,282 1.6
Families with a child under 5 1,947 25.7 23,310 14.4 46,158 16.9 69,477 15.7
Families with a child aged 0-15 years 3,227 42.7 52,700 32.4 108,843 39.8 161,550 36.4

These statistics are for families in South Australia. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in China. Of these families, 46.6% were couple families with children, 40.8% were couple families without children and 11.4% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Both employed, worked full-time 943 14.3 22,771 16.0 43,721 20.3 67,049 18.5
Both employed, worked part-time 458 6.9 7,106 5.0 9,308 4.3 16,589 4.6
One employed full-time, one part-time 968 14.7 27,050 19.0 55,790 25.9 83,567 23.0
One employed full-time, other not working 1,228 18.6 20,712 14.5 26,271 12.2 47,483 13.1
One employed part-time, other not working 708 10.7 11,500 8.1 12,156 5.6 23,992 6.6
Both not working 1,534 23.2 40,395 28.3 41,611 19.3 84,108 23.1
Other (includes away from work) 302 4.6 6,435 4.5 12,217 5.7 18,943 5.2
Labour force status not stated (by one or both parents in a couple family) 458 6.9 6,621 4.6 14,218 6.6 21,592 5.9

These statistics are for families in South Australia. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in China. Of these families, 14.3% of families had both parents working full-time, 14.7% of families had one parent working full-time and one parent working part-time, and 23.2% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Separate house 6,782 61.4 165,073 75.4 417,039 80.3 496,799 77.8
Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc 2,180 19.7 33,465 15.3 71,246 13.7 94,510 14.8
Flat or apartment 2,013 18.2 18,692 8.5 26,789 5.2 42,003 6.6
Other dwelling 25 0.2 935 0.4 2,346 0.5 3,016 0.5

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in South Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in China, 61.4% were a separate house, 18.2% were a flat or apartment, and 19.7% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
None (includes bedsitters) 44 0.4 547 0.2 1,120 0.2 1,611 0.3
1 bedroom 435 3.9 7,316 3.3 14,633 2.8 21,505 3.4
2 bedrooms 2,237 20.2 41,694 19.0 87,655 16.9 118,792 18.6
3 bedrooms 4,971 45.0 112,281 51.3 275,141 53.0 333,035 52.1
4 or more bedrooms 3,159 28.6 52,837 24.1 132,076 25.4 150,400 23.5
Number of bedrooms not stated 203 1.8 4,309 2.0 8,698 1.7 13,455 2.1

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in South Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in China, 20.2% had two bedrooms, 45.0% had three bedrooms and 28.6% 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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Owned outright 2,278 20.6 76,757 35.1 159,658 30.7 205,531 32.2
Owned with a mortgage 4,329 39.2 72,197 33.0 200,303 38.6 225,670 35.3
Rented 4,131 37.4 61,873 28.3 141,898 27.3 182,180 28.5
Other tenure type 75 0.7 3,062 1.4 7,313 1.4 9,847 1.5
Tenure type not stated 236 2.1 5,101 2.3 10,150 2.0 15,566 2.4
Median monthly mortgage repayment 1,647 -- 1,517 -- 1,500 -- 1,491 --
Median weekly rent paid 340 -- 280 -- 265 -- 260 --

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in South Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in China, 20.6% were owned outright, 39.2% were owned with a mortgage and 37.4% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,647 and the median weekly rent paid was $340.

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 China % Born in China All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
One family households 7,337 66.5 159,798 73.0 368,038 70.9 430,095 67.3
Multiple family households 439 4.0 4,056 1.9 5,917 1.1 6,725 1.1
Single (or lone) person households 1,145 10.4 45,963 21.0 127,947 24.6 179,119 28.0
Group households 2,113 19.1 9,174 4.2 17,414 3.4 22,855 3.6

All occupants of a private dwelling complete one census form and are counted as a household. 'Born in China' includes households in South Australia where at least one person was born in China. Of those households, 66.5% were one family households and 10.4% 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.