Year of arrival in Australia (YARP)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Cite
Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable is applicable to persons born overseas and records the year they first arrived in Australia to live for one year or more.

See also, Year of arrival in Australia (ranges) (YARRP).

Scope

Persons born overseas who will be in Australia for more than one year

Categories

CodeCategory
1905 - 20211905 to 2021 singly
&&&&Not stated
@@@@Not applicable
VVVVOverseas visitor

Number of categories: 120

Not applicable (@@@@) category comprises:

  • Persons who did not state their country of birth
  • Persons born in Australia (includes Other Territories)

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.

Question(s) from the Census form

In which country was the person born?

In which country was the person born?
In which country was Person 1 born? The countries listed were the most commonly reported countries of birth in the 2016 Census. For all other countries of birth, please select the 'Other (please specify)' option and enter the name of the country in the box. Person's country of birth Australia England New Zealand India Philippines Vietnam Italy Other (please specify)

Example

Example response to the question: In which country was the person born? England option selected
In which country was Person 1 born? The countries listed were the most commonly reported countries of birth in the 2016 Census. For all other countries of birth, please select the 'Other (please specify)' option and enter the name of the country in the box. Person's country of birth Australia England (selected response) New Zealand India Philippines Vietnam Italy Other (please specify)

Example

Example response to the question: In which country was the person born? Australia option selected
In which country was Person 1 born? The countries listed were the most commonly reported countries of birth in the 2016 Census. For all other countries of birth, please select the 'Other (please specify)' option and enter the name of the country in the box. Person's country of birth Australia (selected response) England New Zealand India Philippines Vietnam Italy Other (please specify) Arrival in Australia This question does not apply, based on your answer to the Country of Birth question.

In what year did the person first arrive in Australia to live for one year or more?

In what year did the person first arrive in Australia to live for one year or more?
In what year did Person 1 first arrive in Australia to live for one year or more? More information Year OR Will be in Australia for less than one year

More information

Additional information relating to the question: In what year did the person first arrive in Australia to live for one year or more?
In what year did Person 1 first arrive in Australia to live for one year or more? More information This question asks overseas-born people to provide the calendar year when they first arrived in Australia with the intention of staying for at least one year. Please enter the year of first arrival in Australia and not the year of the most recent arrival.

How this variable is created

The Country of birth of person (BPLP) variable is used to determine if a person was born in Australia or overseas. Australia refers to the geographical Australia defined in the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

Data for this variable is captured automatically from written numeric responses, or the 'Will be in Australia less than one year' mark box. High and low values are checked manually to ensure that they match the actual response on the form. A check is made to ensure that a person's stated age is compatible with period of residence.

If a respondent answers they:

  • Usually reside in another country, they are coded to 'Overseas visitor'
  • Were born overseas and usually reside in Australia but will be in Australia for less than one year, they are coded to 'Not stated'
  • Were born in Australia, they are coded to 'Not applicable'

History and changes

A question on year of arrival in Australia, or length of residence, was first asked in the 1911 Census and has been asked in every Census since.

In censuses prior to 1991, the question was asked in terms of number of completed years of residence in Australia.

In 1996, data was collected in categories ranging from 'Before 1981' to '1996'.

From 2001 onwards, data was collected by single year with valid responses in 2011 being in the range 1895 to 2011. For 2016, data was collected by single year with valid responses in the range 1900 to 2016.

For 2021, data is collected by single year with valid responses in the range of 1905 to 2021.

Data use considerations

When this variable is cross-classified with other Census data, it is useful for analysing how the characteristics of migrants change with their length of time in Australia. 

Data is available in years singly from 1905 to 2021 (YARP), with 2021 referring to the period from 1 January to 10 August 2021 only.

A check is performed to ensure that a person's stated age is compatible with their period of residence.

The non-response rate for Year of arrival in Australia (YARP) was 2.4% in 2021. This is a decrease from 3.5% in 2016. Where an applicable person has not provided a year of arrival, but has marked the 'Will be in Australia less than one year' mark box, this response is set to not stated.

Related variables and glossary terms

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