People in Australia who were born in India

2016 Census Country of birth QuickStats
Area code 0 by 7103
People 455,388
Male 245,416
Female 209,972
Australian citizen 48.1%
Not an Australian citizen 50.8%
Families 175,276
Couples with children 113,183
Couples without children 52,834
One parent families 7,077
Other families 2,188
All private dwellings 199,884
Median monthly mortgage repayment $2,100
Median weekly rent paid $360

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People

demographics & education | cultural & language diversity | employment

Demographics & education

People Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Male 245,416 53.9 2,997,173 48.6 7,735,362 49.5 11,546,638 49.3
Female 209,972 46.1 3,166,493 51.4 7,880,175 50.5 11,855,248 50.7

In the 2016 Census, there were 455,388 people in Australia who were born in India. Of these 53.9% were male and 46.1% were female.

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

Age
People
Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
0-14 years 38,824 8.5 366,872 6.0 3,777,875 24.2 4,364,607 18.7
15-24 years 44,311 9.7 612,643 9.9 2,197,847 14.1 2,988,390 12.8
25-34 years 171,126 37.6 1,130,884 18.3 1,994,601 12.8 3,368,449 14.4
35-44 years 105,752 23.2 1,021,528 16.6 1,911,355 12.2 3,144,935 13.4
45-54 years 40,520 8.9 961,980 15.6 1,920,340 12.3 3,105,007 13.3
55-64 years 26,366 5.8 840,595 13.6 1,704,198 10.9 2,753,734 11.8
65 years and over 28,483 6.3 1,229,161 19.9 2,109,310 13.5 3,676,765 15.7
Median age 33 -- 44 -- 34 -- 38 --

Of the population born in India who usually live in Australia, 8.5% were aged 0 - 14 years and 6.3% were aged 65 years and over. The median age of people in Australia who were born in India was 33 years.

View the data quality statement for Age (AGEP)
Registered marital status
People aged 15 years and over
Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Married 317,062 76.1 3,362,174 58.0 5,158,710 43.6 9,148,218 48.1
Separated 5,449 1.3 178,867 3.1 376,863 3.2 608,059 3.2
Divorced 10,041 2.4 464,766 8.0 1,021,844 8.6 1,626,890 8.5
Widowed 9,661 2.3 326,987 5.6 560,940 4.7 985,204 5.2
Never married 74,342 17.8 1,463,996 25.3 4,719,302 39.9 6,668,910 35.0

Of people in Australia aged 15 years and over who were born in India, 76.1% were married, 1.3% were separated, and 2.4% were divorced.

View the data quality statement for Registered marital status (MSTP)
Education Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Pre-school 3,057 0.7 21,982 0.4 323,754 2.1 347,621 1.5
Primary 20,384 4.5 197,196 3.2 1,717,830 11.0 1,926,880 8.2
Secondary 14,485 3.2 224,770 3.6 1,211,676 7.8 1,446,506 6.2
University or tertiary institution 41,101 9.0 440,789 7.2 713,008 4.6 1,160,630 5.0
Technical or further education 10,160 2.2 152,909 2.5 267,689 1.7 424,870 1.8
Other 9,586 2.1 97,890 1.6 98,429 0.6 198,383 0.8
Institution attended, type not stated 6,001 1.3 117,292 1.9 329,449 2.1 1,707,023 7.3
Not attending an educational institution 350,610 77.0 4,910,840 79.7 10,953,685 70.1 16,189,980 69.2

Of the population born in India who usually live in Australia, 23.0% were attending an educational institution. There were 4.5% in primary school, 3.2% in secondary school and 11.3% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Bachelor Degree level and above 240,732 57.8 1,830,410 31.6 2,320,141 19.6 4,181,406 22.0
Advanced Diploma and Diploma level 47,540 11.4 587,176 10.1 1,079,954 9.1 1,687,893 8.9
Certificate level IV 4,401 1.1 120,064 2.1 425,836 3.6 551,767 2.9
Certificate level III 17,907 4.3 565,803 9.8 1,831,323 15.5 2,442,203 12.8
Year 12 58,685 14.1 1,051,623 18.1 1,902,337 16.1 2,994,097 15.7
Year 11 4,649 1.1 200,856 3.5 724,761 6.1 941,531 4.9
Year 10 11,338 2.7 418,929 7.2 1,588,715 13.4 2,054,331 10.8
Certificate level II 33 0.0 3,313 0.1 9,848 0.1 13,454 0.1
Certificate level I 6 0.0 863 0.0 1,266 0.0 2,176 0.0
Year 9 or below 7,332 1.8 458,176 7.9 1,027,299 8.7 1,529,897 8.0
No educational attainment 2,254 0.5 114,870 2.0 26,748 0.2 145,844 0.8
Not stated 10,976 2.6 264,618 4.6 570,419 4.8 1,974,794 10.4

Of the population born in India who usually live in Australia, 14.1% reported having completed Year 12 as their highest level of educational attainment, 5.4% had completed a Certificate III or IV and 11.4% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Before 1941 112 0.0 9,289 0.2 -- -- -- --
1941 - 1950 1,725 0.4 84,378 1.4 -- -- -- --
1951 - 1960 1,494 0.3 321,721 5.2 -- -- -- --
1961 - 1970 9,583 2.1 590,106 9.6 -- -- -- --
1971 - 1980 10,960 2.4 541,319 8.8 -- -- -- --
1981 - 1990 17,288 3.8 768,312 12.5 -- -- -- --
1991 - 2000 36,137 7.9 766,940 12.4 -- -- -- --
2001 - 2005 48,539 10.7 559,084 9.1 -- -- -- --
2006 - 2010 153,423 33.7 985,332 16.0 -- -- -- --
2011 - 2016 163,010 35.8 1,324,426 21.5 -- -- -- --
Born in Australia -- -- -- -- 15,615,531 -- -- --

In Australia of people who were born in India, 35.8% arrived in Australia from 2011 - 2016 and 33.7% from 2006 - 2010.

View the data quality statement for Year of arrival in Australia (YARP)
Citizenship Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Australian citizen 218,976 48.1 3,652,290 59.3 15,304,785 98.0 19,278,834 82.4
Not an Australian citizen 231,254 50.8 2,402,591 39.0 86,884 0.6 2,507,458 10.7

In Australia of people who were born in India, 48.1% were Australian citizens.

View the data quality statement for Australian citizenship (CITP)
Birthplace of spouse or partner Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Spouse or partner born overseas 277,931 93.9 2,533,692 72.3 874,386 14.5 3,432,017 35.9
Spouse or partner born in Australia 12,232 4.1 874,386 25.0 4,975,104 82.7 5,872,893 61.4

In Australia of people who were born in India and had a spouse or partner, 93.9% had a spouse or partner who was born overseas and 4.1% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Hinduism 224,605 49.3 356,958 5.8 80,193 0.5 440,300 1.9
Sikhism 93,125 20.4 99,545 1.6 25,331 0.2 125,901 0.5
Catholic 59,699 13.1 1,306,565 21.2 3,895,007 24.9 5,291,834 22.6
Islam 15,656 3.4 372,165 6.0 219,936 1.4 604,240 2.6
No Religion, so described 15,411 3.4 1,647,084 26.7 5,197,438 33.3 6,933,708 29.6

In Australia of people who were born in India, the most common responses to the religion question were Hinduism 49.3%, Sikhism 20.4%, Catholic 13.1%, Islam 3.4% and No Religion, so described 3.4%.

View the data quality statement for Religious affiliation (RELP)
English language proficiency Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Speaks English only 71,137 15.6 2,581,282 41.9 14,190,672 90.9 17,020,421 72.7
Speaks other language and speaks English:  null  null  null  null  null  null
Very well or well 358,394 78.7 2,885,219 46.8 1,122,966 7.2 4,068,598 17.4
Not well or not at all 22,548 5.0 648,470 10.5 157,704 1.0 819,925 3.5

In Australia of people who were born in India, 15.6% spoke English only at home. A further 78.7% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Worked full-time 194,444 61.0 2,052,828 58.4 4,491,739 57.5 6,623,065 57.7
Worked part-time 85,483 26.8 1,025,198 29.2 2,421,402 31.0 3,491,503 30.4
Away from work 13,372 4.2 158,027 4.5 397,088 5.1 569,276 5.0
Unemployed 25,670 8.0 277,586 7.9 498,013 6.4 787,452 6.9
Not in the labour force 93,916 22.5 2,221,922 38.3 3,913,066 33.1 6,297,600 33.1

In Australia of people who were born in India and who were in the labour force, 61.0% worked full-time, 26.8% worked part-time and 8.0% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
1-15 hours per week 20,082 6.8 313,561 9.7 890,779 12.2 1,218,823 11.4
16-24 hours per week 35,968 12.3 358,890 11.1 706,291 9.7 1,079,236 10.1
25-34 hours per week 29,425 10.0 352,748 10.9 824,331 11.3 1,193,445 11.2
35-39 hours per week 81,255 27.7 705,848 21.8 1,300,092 17.8 2,031,263 19.0
40 hours or more per week 113,189 38.6 1,346,985 41.6 3,191,643 43.7 4,591,801 43.0

In Australia of people who were born in India and who were employed, 38.6% worked 40 hours or more per week and 27.7% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Professionals 88,344 30.1 815,695 25.2 1,536,662 21.0 2,370,966 22.2
Managers 32,295 11.0 403,585 12.5 970,340 13.3 1,390,047 13.0
Clerical and Administrative Workers 32,119 11.0 393,619 12.2 1,040,953 14.2 1,449,681 13.6
Community and Personal Service Workers 28,430 9.7 351,854 10.9 789,597 10.8 1,157,003 10.8
Labourers 28,352 9.7 354,542 11.0 638,102 8.7 1,011,520 9.5

In Australia of people who were born in India, the most common responses for occupation were Professionals 30.1%, Managers 11.0%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 11.0%, Community and Personal Service Workers 9.7% and Labourers 9.7%.

View the data quality statement for Occupation (OCCP)
Industry of employment, top responses
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Computer System Design and Related Services 20,160 6.9 82,618 2.6 79,573 1.1 162,884 1.5
Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 16,866 5.8 141,550 4.4 265,609 3.6 411,808 3.9
Aged Care Residential Services 11,194 3.8 90,571 2.8 117,174 1.6 211,621 2.0
Cafes and Restaurants 10,896 3.7 121,097 3.7 130,007 1.8 253,385 2.4
Supermarket and Grocery Stores 10,369 3.5 63,537 2.0 187,929 2.6 254,275 2.4

In Australia of people who were born in India, the most common responses for industry of employment were Computer System Design and Related Services 6.9%, Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 5.8%, Aged Care Residential Services 3.8%, Cafes and Restaurants 3.7% and Supermarket and Grocery Stores 3.5%.

View the data quality statement for Industry of employment (INDP)
Median weekly income
People aged 15 years and over
Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Personal 785 -- 615 -- 688 -- 662 --
Family 1,888 -- 1,725 -- 1,834 -- 1,734 --
Household 1,953 -- 1,562 -- 1,539 -- 1,438 --

In Australia of people who were born in India, the personal weekly median income was $785. Family median weekly income was $1,888 and Household median weekly income was $1,953.

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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Car 164,774 56.2 1,986,872 61.4 5,009,484 68.5 7,090,101 66.4
Bus or train 62,863 21.4 453,292 14.0 454,116 6.2 915,328 8.6
Other 37,259 12.7 381,664 11.8 672,865 9.2 1,066,965 10.0

In Australia 56.2% of employed people who were born in India travelled to work on census day by car, while 21.4% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Did unpaid domestic work (last week) 286,330 68.7 3,964,948 68.4 9,000,198 76.0 13,143,914 69.0
Cared for child/children (last two weeks) 163,786 39.3 1,677,392 28.9 3,507,061 29.6 5,259,400 27.6
Provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability (last two weeks) 37,866 9.1 613,990 10.6 1,489,817 12.6 2,145,203 11.3
Did voluntary work through an organisation or group (last 12 months) 58,730 14.1 941,091 16.2 2,634,097 22.3 3,620,726 19.0

In Australia 68.7% of people who were born in India did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, and 39.3% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Less than 5 hours per week 80,581 19.3 1,234,900 21.3 3,013,177 25.5 4,298,593 22.6
5 to 14 hours per week 108,794 26.1 1,509,217 26.0 3,371,602 28.5 4,944,578 26.0
15 to 29 hours per week 52,807 12.7 678,501 11.7 1,479,061 12.5 2,189,776 11.5
30 hours or more per week 44,148 10.6 542,335 9.4 1,136,359 9.6 1,710,970 9.0

In Australia of people who were born in India and who did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, 26.1% worked 5 to 14 hours, 12.7% worked 15 to 29 hours and 10.6% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Couple family without children 52,834 30.1 1,012,440 39.3 1,240,422 36.6 2,291,987 37.8
Couple family with children 113,183 64.6 1,248,241 48.4 1,434,939 42.3 2,716,224 44.7
One parent family 7,077 4.0 282,463 11.0 648,590 19.1 959,543 15.8
Other family 2,188 1.2 34,059 1.3 65,896 1.9 102,559 1.7
Families with a child under 5 58,186 33.2 446,733 17.3 591,182 17.4 1,037,904 17.1
Families with a child aged 0-15 years 98,724 56.3 977,697 37.9 1,379,763 40.7 2,357,465 38.8

These statistics are for families in Australia. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in India. Of these families, 64.6% were couple families with children, 30.1% were couple families without children and 4.0% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Both employed, worked full-time 43,432 26.2 475,278 21.0 600,260 22.4 1,084,006 21.6
Both employed, worked part-time 7,267 4.4 97,948 4.3 103,266 3.9 203,596 4.1
One employed full-time, one part-time 33,538 20.2 424,478 18.8 652,771 24.4 1,086,460 21.7
One employed full-time, other not working 41,164 24.8 390,307 17.3 352,203 13.2 749,886 15.0
One employed part-time, other not working 9,345 5.6 156,274 6.9 141,852 5.3 302,037 6.0
Both not working 14,649 8.8 492,423 21.8 488,403 18.3 1,006,697 20.1
Other (includes away from work) 9,119 5.5 107,664 4.8 152,346 5.7 264,145 5.3
Labour force status not stated (by one or both parents in a couple family) 7,511 4.5 116,299 5.1 184,264 6.9 311,381 6.2

These statistics are for families in Australia. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in India. Of these families, 26.2% of families had both parents working full-time, 20.2% of families had one parent working full-time and one parent working part-time, and 8.8% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Separate house 109,417 54.7 2,212,954 67.1 5,074,866 76.9 6,041,788 72.9
Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc 34,984 17.5 466,800 14.1 779,497 11.8 1,055,016 12.7
Flat or apartment 53,826 26.9 585,471 17.7 668,862 10.1 1,087,434 13.1
Other dwelling 769 0.4 20,721 0.6 48,617 0.7 64,425 0.8

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in India, 54.7% were a separate house, 26.9% were a flat or apartment, and 17.5% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
None (includes bedsitters) 1,009 0.5 17,187 0.5 23,956 0.4 39,769 0.5
1 bedroom 12,573 6.3 176,922 5.4 254,884 3.9 411,252 5.0
2 bedrooms 54,356 27.2 658,470 20.0 1,119,772 17.0 1,562,759 18.9
3 bedrooms 65,117 32.6 1,264,755 38.3 2,787,246 42.2 3,403,190 41.1
4 or more bedrooms 62,020 31.0 1,110,865 33.7 2,287,725 34.7 2,670,758 32.2
Number of bedrooms not stated 4,799 2.4 71,635 2.2 126,102 1.9 198,351 2.4

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in India, 27.2% had two bedrooms, 32.6% had three bedrooms and 31.0% 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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Owned outright 22,906 11.5 970,425 29.4 2,013,505 30.5 2,565,695 31.0
Owned with a mortgage 77,197 38.6 1,122,252 34.0 2,474,999 37.5 2,855,222 34.5
Rented 93,838 46.9 1,099,840 33.3 1,907,007 28.9 2,561,302 30.9
Other tenure type 841 0.4 25,380 0.8 59,681 0.9 78,994 1.0
Tenure type not stated 5,096 2.5 81,928 2.5 144,494 2.2 224,869 2.7
Median monthly mortgage repayment 2,100 -- 1,950 -- 1,742 -- 1,755 --
Median weekly rent paid 360 -- 370 -- 330 -- 335 --

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in India, 11.5% were owned outright, 38.6% were owned with a mortgage and 46.9% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100 and the median weekly rent paid was $360.

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 India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
One family households 161,072 80.6 2,465,248 74.7 4,809,352 72.9 5,751,635 69.4
Multiple family households 9,790 4.9 101,470 3.1 137,593 2.1 155,992 1.9
Single (or lone) person households 16,443 8.2 559,665 17.0 1,403,935 21.3 2,023,542 24.4
Group households 12,575 6.3 173,452 5.3 248,803 3.8 354,917 4.3

All occupants of a private dwelling complete one census form and are counted as a household. 'Born in India' includes households in Australia where at least one person was born in India. Of those households, 80.6% were one family households and 8.2% 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.