Country of birth

At 30 June, 2016:

• Australian born prisoners accounted for four in every five prisoners (81% or 31,562 prisoners), whilst Australian born persons accounted for two-thirds (66%) of the Australian population aged 17 years and over.

• Overseas born prisoners accounted for 18% of all prisoners (6,871 prisoners) and overseas born persons accounted for just over one-third (34%) of the Australian population aged 17 years and over. (Table 21 and unpublished data from ABS cat. no. 3101.0 Australian Demographic Statistics)

• Victoria had the highest proportion of overseas born prisoners (25% or 1,619 prisoners). Of these, the most common country of birth was Vietnam (20% of overseas born prisoners or 329 prisoners).

• Since 2015, the largest increase in the number of overseas born prisoners were recorded in New Zealand and Vietnam (up 7% or 72 prisoners and 9% or 69 prisoners, respectively). (Table 21 and historical data)

From 2009 to 2016 for overseas born prisoners:

• Prisoners born in New Zealand have had the most notable increase since 2009, going up 42% (806 to 1,147 prisoners), while the imprisonment rate for New Zealand born prisoners also grew over this time, going up 13% from 188 to 213 prisoners per 100,000 resident population born in New Zealand. (Table 21 and historical data)

In relation to the top six countries of birth for overseas born prisoners as at 30 June, 2016:

• Acts intended to cause injury was the most common offence for prisoners born in New Zealand and Sudan, representing 24% and 33% of these populations respectively.

• Illicit drug offences was the most common offence for prisoners born in Vietnam, China and Lebanon representing 69%, 65% and 28% of these populations, respectively. Vietnam born prisoners with illicit drug offences account for one-tenth (11%) of all prisoners with an illicit drug offence.

• Sexual assault was the most common offence for prisoners born in the United Kingdom, representing 30% of all prisoners born in the United Kingdom. (Table 6)