AUSTRALIA'S DIVERSE POPULATION At 30 June 2004 almost one quarter (24%) of the Australian population were born overseas. People born in the United Kingdom accounted for 24% of all overseas-born residents in Australia's population, followed by New Zealand (9%), Italy (5%), China and Viet Nam (4% each). The number of overseas-born Australian residents increased by 1.4% per year on average from 30 June 1996 to 30 June 2004. This was a larger increase than that of the Australia-born population (1.1%) and the total population (1.2%). From 30 June 1996 to 30 June 2004, of the 50 most commonly stated countries of birth, Sudan-born people had the largest annual average increase (26%), followed by persons born in Afghanistan (12%) and Iraq (11%). The largest declines in this group were of Poland-born, Italy-born and Hungary-born residents (2% each). The two regions of North-West Europe and Southern and Eastern Europe together accounted for nearly half of overseas-born residents in Australia at 30 June 2004 (31% and 18% respectively). The median age of Australia's overseas-born population at 30 June 2004 was 47 years, higher than the Australia-born population (32 years) and the total population (36 years). At 30 June 2001, Western Australia's population had the highest proportion of overseas-born residents (29%) compared with other states and territories, while Tasmania had the lowest proportion (11%).
