People in Australia who were born in India

2011 Census Country of birth QuickStats
Geography type Australia by Country of Birth of Person
Area code 0 by 7103
People 295,362
Male 164,208
Female 131,154
Australian citizen 44.5%
Not an Australian citizen 53.6%
Families 111,455
Couples with children 63,122
Couples without children 41,095
One parent families 4,868
Other families 2,370
All private dwellings 132,645
Median monthly mortgage repayment $2,167
Median weekly rent paid $315

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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
Total 295,362 -- 5,294,150 -- 15,017,846 -- 21,507,719 --
Male 164,208 55.6 2,593,757 49.0 7,412,598 49.4 10,634,013 49.4
Female 131,154 44.4 2,700,393 51.0 7,605,248 50.6 10,873,706 50.6

In the 2011 Census, there were 295,362 people in Australia who were born in India. Of these 55.6% were male and 44.4% were female.

Age
People
Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
0-14 years 24,089 8.2 321,002 6.1 3,640,297 24.2 4,144,025 19.3
15-24 years 35,201 11.9 509,371 9.6 2,205,772 14.7 2,866,475 13.3
25-34 years 118,651 40.2 877,998 16.6 1,912,001 12.7 2,967,018 13.8
35-44 years 50,436 17.1 869,316 16.4 2,028,894 13.5 3,063,014 14.2
45-54 years 28,262 9.6 911,673 17.2 1,878,549 12.5 2,951,545 13.7
55-64 years 18,050 6.1 800,149 15.1 1,565,325 10.4 2,503,360 11.6
65 years and over 20,673 7.0 1,004,641 19.0 1,787,005 11.9 3,012,282 14.0
Median age 31 -- 45 -- 33 -- 37 --

Of the population born in India who usually live in Australia, 8.2% were aged 0 - 14 years and 7.0% were aged 65 years and over. The median age of people in Australia who were born in India was 31 years.

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 195,017 71.9 2,928,440 58.9 5,108,631 44.9 8,461,114 48.7
Separated 3,524 1.3 153,431 3.1 338,561 3.0 529,281 3.0
Divorced 6,897 2.5 408,625 8.2 950,506 8.4 1,460,899 8.4
Widowed 6,945 2.6 302,440 6.1 566,038 5.0 949,634 5.5
Never married 58,891 21.7 1,180,210 23.7 4,413,812 38.8 5,962,768 34.3

Of people in Australia aged 15 years and over who were born in India, 71.9% were married, 1.3% were separated, and 2.5% were divorced.

Median age by 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 35 -- 50 -- 50 -- 50 --
Separated 44 -- 50 -- 48 -- 49 --
Divorced 51 -- 55 -- 54 -- 54 --
Widowed 75 -- 77 -- 78 -- 78 --
Never married 25 -- 27 -- 25 -- 25 --

Of people who usually live in Australia and who were born in India the median age of married people was 35 years. Of people never married, the median age was 25 years.

Education Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Pre-school 1,918 0.6 21,003 0.4 309,313 2.1 332,843 1.5
Primary 12,434 4.2 167,232 3.2 1,575,657 10.5 1,755,208 8.2
Secondary 8,157 2.8 175,726 3.3 1,149,930 7.7 1,336,043 6.2
University or tertiary institution 19,961 6.8 310,820 5.9 615,500 4.1 932,526 4.3
Technical or further education 10,381 3.5 144,143 2.7 324,322 2.2 473,608 2.2
Other 9,451 3.2 67,731 1.3 92,172 0.6 161,660 0.8
Institution attended, type not stated 7,746 2.6 164,034 3.1 456,866 3.0 1,511,692 7.0
Not attending an educational institution 225,314 76.3 4,243,461 80.2 10,494,086 69.9 15,004,139 69.8
Total 295,362 -- 5,294,150 -- 15,017,846 -- 21,507,719 --

Of the population born in India who usually live in Australia, 23.7% were attending an educational institution. There were 4.2% in primary school, 2.8% in secondary school and 10.3% in a tertiary or technical institution.

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 170 0.1 16,681 0.3 -- -- -- --
1941 - 1950 2,027 0.7 106,647 2.0 -- -- -- --
1951 - 1960 1,697 0.6 375,076 7.1 -- -- -- --
1961 - 1970 10,319 3.5 642,355 12.1 -- -- -- --
1971 - 1980 11,595 3.9 571,828 10.8 -- -- -- --
1981 - 1990 17,659 6.0 782,926 14.8 -- -- -- --
1991 - 2000 36,765 12.4 786,777 14.9 -- -- -- --
2001 - 2005 48,949 16.6 581,597 11.0 -- -- -- --
2006 - 2011 156,326 52.9 1,190,322 22.5 -- -- -- --
Born in Australia -- -- -- -- 15,017,842 -- -- --

In Australia of people who were born in India, 52.9% arrived in Australia from 2006 - 2011 and 16.6% from 2001 - 2005.

Citizenship Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Australian citizen 131,446 44.5 3,308,898 62.5 14,717,058 98.0 18,261,807 84.9
Not an Australian citizen 158,432 53.6 1,886,266 35.6 61,629 0.4 1,959,288 9.1

In Australia of people who were born in India, 44.5% were Australian citizens.

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 167,654 92.6 2,166,392 70.8 815,212 13.9 3,000,633 33.4
Spouse or partner born in Australia 10,344 5.7 815,212 26.6 4,893,731 83.3 5,724,579 63.8

In Australia of people who were born in India and had a spouse or partner, 92.6% had a spouse or partner who was born overseas and 5.7% had a spouse or partner born in Australia.

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 139,632 47.3 230,104 4.3 42,799 0.3 275,535 1.3
Sikhism 55,311 18.7 60,533 1.1 10,921 0.1 72,296 0.3
Catholic 48,206 16.3 1,285,438 24.3 4,065,062 27.1 5,439,268 25.3
Islam 10,125 3.4 286,163 5.4 179,080 1.2 476,290 2.2
Anglican 7,894 2.7 632,770 12.0 2,983,580 19.9 3,679,907 17.1

In Australia of people who were born in India, the most common responses to the religion question were Hinduism 47.3%, Sikhism 18.7%, Catholic 16.3%, Islam 3.4% and Anglican 2.7%.

English language proficiency Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Speaks English only 62,860 21.3 2,475,678 46.8 13,801,996 91.9 16,509,291 76.8
Speaks other language and speaks English:  null  null  null  null  null  null
Very well or well 216,985 73.5 2,251,010 42.5 965,711 6.4 3,272,390 15.2
Not well or not at all 12,412 4.2 513,582 9.7 127,514 0.8 655,380 3.0

In Australia of people who were born in India, 21.3% spoke English only at home. A further 73.5% spoke another language but also spoke English very well or well.

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 126,512 61.5 1,815,912 60.9 4,481,393 59.4 6,367,554 59.7
Worked part-time 56,413 27.4 810,164 27.2 2,217,300 29.4 3,062,976 28.7
Away from work 9,738 4.7 163,025 5.5 452,103 6.0 627,797 5.9
Unemployed 13,046 6.3 192,530 6.5 398,931 5.3 600,133 5.6
Total in labour force 205,709 -- 2,981,631 -- 7,549,727 -- 10,658,460 --
Not in the labour force 61,457 22.7 1,908,619 38.4 3,687,284 32.4 5,729,306 33.0

In Australia of people who were born in India and who were in the labour force, 61.5% worked full-time, 27.4% worked part-time and 6.3% were unemployed.

View the labour force fact sheet
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 11,585 6.0 253,078 9.1 823,237 11.5 1,087,799 10.8
16-24 hours per week 27,185 14.1 277,755 10.0 658,858 9.2 947,792 9.4
25-34 hours per week 17,643 9.2 279,329 10.0 735,206 10.3 1,027,380 10.2
35-39 hours per week 50,011 26.0 569,314 20.4 1,218,448 17.0 1,808,879 18.0
40 hours or more per week 76,500 39.7 1,246,601 44.7 3,262,942 45.6 4,558,678 45.3

In Australia of people who were born in India and who were employed, 39.7% worked 40 hours or more per week and 26.0% worked 35-39 hours per week.

Median age by employment status
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
Employed full-time 34 -- 43 -- 40 -- 40 --
Employed part-time 29 -- 42 -- 39 -- 40 --

In Australia of people who were born in India the median age for those who were employed full-time was 34, while the median age for those employed part-time was 29.

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 55,111 28.6 688,981 24.7 1,440,391 20.1 2,145,442 21.3
Clerical and Administrative Workers 25,130 13.0 380,315 13.6 1,089,161 15.2 1,483,558 14.7
Labourers 21,226 11.0 297,325 10.7 634,085 8.9 947,608 9.4
Technicians and Trades Workers 20,050 10.4 371,777 13.3 1,035,127 14.5 1,425,146 14.2
Managers 17,854 9.3 340,216 12.2 940,518 13.2 1,293,970 12.9
Machinery Operators And Drivers 17,249 9.0 188,069 6.7 460,385 6.4 659,551 6.6
Community and Personal Service Workers 16,150 8.4 258,854 9.3 700,806 9.8 971,897 9.7
Sales Workers 15,298 7.9 204,805 7.3 726,767 10.2 942,140 9.4

In Australia of people who were born in India, the most common responses for occupation were Professionals 28.6%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 13.0%, Labourers 11.0%, Technicians and Trades Workers 10.4% and Managers 9.3%.

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
Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 12,694 6.6 145,010 5.2 263,327 3.7 412,804 4.1
Computer System Design and Related Services 10,291 5.3 63,215 2.3 75,533 1.1 139,409 1.4
Hospitals 9,860 5.1 117,869 4.2 239,579 3.4 361,011 3.6
Depository Financial Intermediation 6,446 3.3 50,565 1.8 96,567 1.4 148,232 1.5
Supermarket and Grocery Stores 6,154 3.2 49,299 1.8 183,911 2.6 235,773 2.3

In Australia of people who were born in India, the most common responses for industry of employment were Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 6.6%, Computer System Design and Related Services 5.3%, Hospitals 5.1%, Depository Financial Intermediation 3.3% and Supermarket and Grocery Stores 3.2%.

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 663 -- 538 -- 597 -- 577 --
Family 1,609 -- 1,485 -- 1,492 -- 1,481 --
Household 1,674 -- 1,245 -- 1,194 -- 1,234 --

In Australia of people who were born in India, the personal weekly median income was $663. Family median weekly income was $1,609 and Household median weekly income was $1,674.

Family and Household are determined for the selected country of birth, 'All overseas born' and 'Australian born' by the Reference Person and/or their spouse/partner's response to country of birth. See explanatory notes for more information.

View the income fact sheet
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

In Australia 54.3% of employed people who were born in India, travelled to work on census day by car, while 22.5% travelled by bus or train.

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

In Australia 66.4% of people who were born in India did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, and 30.8% cared for a child or children in the two weeks before the census.

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

In Australia of people who were born in India and who did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, 25.2% worked 5 to 14 hours, 11.7% worked 15 to 29 hours and 9.4% worked 30 hours or more.

Families

family composition | weekly incomes | employment status of couple families

Family composition

For important information on how migrant families are classified, please see the explanatory notes

Family composition Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total

These statistics are for families in Australia. They are for families where the reference person was born in India and also include households where the reference person was born in Australia, or did not state their country of birth, but had a partner or spouse who was born in India. Of these families, 56.6% were couple families with children, 36.9% were couple families without children and 4.4% were one parent families.

Weekly incomes

Median family income, couple families with two incomes Born in India % Born in India All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Families without children 1,875 -- 2,104 -- 2,072 -- 2,081 --
Families with children 2,308 -- 2,360 -- 2,283 -- 2,310 --

These statistics are for families in Australia. They are for families where the reference person was born in India and also include households where the reference person was born in Australia, or did not state their country of birth, but had a partner or spouse who was born in India. Of these families, the median weekly income for families without children was $1,875 and for families with children the median weekly income was $2,308.

View the income fact sheet

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 27,506 26.4 424,216 21.3 583,765 22.2 1,015,165 21.7
Both employed, worked part-time 5,448 5.2 78,786 3.9 94,329 3.6 174,795 3.7
One employed full-time, one part-time 18,141 17.4 366,187 18.3 628,451 23.9 1,001,907 21.4
One employed full-time, other not working 26,031 25.0 351,617 17.6 378,600 14.4 736,322 15.7
One employed part-time, other not working 6,406 6.1 123,282 6.2 125,270 4.8 251,191 5.4
Both not working 9,771 9.4 428,908 21.5 451,465 17.2 899,598 19.2
Other 5,982 5.7 114,131 5.7 173,546 6.6 291,196 6.2
Labour force status not stated 4,933 4.7 109,016 5.5 190,703 7.3 314,529 6.7

These statistics are for families in Australia. They are for families where the reference person was born in India and also include households where the reference person was born in Australia, or did not state their country of birth, but had a partner or spouse who was born in India. Of these families, 26.4% of families had both parents working full-time, 17.4% of families had one parent working full-time and one parent working part-time, and 9.4% of families stated that both parents were not working.

Dwellings

dwelling structure | mortgage & rent | household composition

Dwelling structure

Dwelling tables exclude visitor only and other non-classifiable households

For important information on how migrant households are classified, please see the explanatory notes

Dwelling structure
Occupied private dwellings
People born in India % People born in India All birthplace responses % All birthplace responses Total % Total
Separate house 73,265 55.2 5,773,803 75.7 5,864,574 75.6
Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc 16,457 12.4 749,880 9.8 765,980 9.9
Flat, unit or apartment 42,337 31.9 1,033,848 13.6 1,056,237 13.6
Other dwelling 442 0.3 63,820 0.8 66,666 0.9

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, 55.2% were a separate house, 31.9% were a flat, unit or apartment, and 12.4% were a semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc.

Number of bedrooms
Occupied private dwellings
People born in India % People born in India All birthplace responses % All birthplace responses Total % Total
None (includes bedsitters) 1,227 0.9 40,817 0.5 42,160 0.5
1 bedroom 9,402 7.1 353,399 4.6 363,129 4.7
2 bedrooms 39,092 29.5 1,452,173 19.0 1,481,577 19.1
3 bedrooms 44,474 33.5 3,331,683 43.7 3,379,930 43.6
4 or more bedrooms 36,102 27.2 2,332,594 30.6 2,350,132 30.3
Number of bedrooms not stated 2,348 1.8 117,401 1.5 143,394 1.8

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, 29.5% had two bedrooms, 33.5% had three bedrooms and 27.2% had four or more bedrooms.

Mortgage & rent

Mortgage and rent
Occupied private dwellings
People born in India % People born in India All birthplace responses % All birthplace responses Total % Total
Owned outright 20,030 15.1 2,440,739 32.0 2,488,149 32.1
Owned with a mortgage 46,207 34.8 2,691,967 35.3 2,709,433 34.9
Rented 62,796 47.3 2,265,310 29.7 2,297,458 29.6
Other tenure type 720 0.5 68,118 0.9 70,069 0.9
Tenure type not stated 2,892 2.2 161,933 2.1 195,213 2.5
Median monthly mortgage repayment 2,167 -- 1,800 -- 1,800 --
Median weekly rent paid 315 -- 286 -- 285 --

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, 15.1% were owned outright, 34.8% were owned with a mortgage and 47.3% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167 and the median weekly rent paid was $315.

Household composition

Household composition People born in India % People born in India All birthplace responses % All birthplace responses Total % Total
One family households 101,635 77.3 5,365,562 70.3 5,422,469 69.9
Multiple family households 6,100 4.6 127,500 1.7 128,147 1.7
Single (or lone) person households 13,003 9.9 1,818,070 23.8 1,888,697 24.3
Group households 10,752 8.2 316,935 4.2 321,006 4.1

All occupants of a private dwelling complete one census form and are counted as a household. 'People born in India' includes households in Australia where at least one person was born in India. Of those households, 77.3% were one family households and 9.9% were lone person households.

Some values may have been adjusted to avoid release of confidential data. This may have a significant impact on the calculated percentages.