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Country and Comparative Data

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Comparing Migrant Stock: The Foreign Born in Australia, Canada, and the United States by Region of Origin

Australia, Canada, and the United States are all considered "traditional countries of immigration." All three countries also categorize their immigrants by place of birth, providing an opportunity to compare some aspects of their foreign-born populations. These graphs provide a window on the origins of immigrants in each of these countries to help explain the immigration patterns that give rise to unique immigrant populations.

Australia
  • There were 4.1 million foreign born in Australia in 2001, representing 22 percent of the total population of 19.0 million.
  • Over half of all immigrants in Australia are from Europe, predominantly the United Kingdom, but Italy, Greece, Germany, and the Netherlands are also among the largest source countries.
  • Almost one-third of all immigrants in Australia are from Asia. Vietnam, China, the Philippines, and India are among the largest source countries.
  • Compared with Canada and the United States, Australia has the highest percentage of immigrants from Oceania, mostly from New Zealand.

Canada
  • There were 5.6 million foreign born in Canada in 2001, representing 19 percent of the total population of 30.0 million.
  • The majority (41 percent) of all immigrants in Canada are from Europe. The United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Germany, and Portugal are among the largest source countries.
  • Over one-third of all immigrants in Canada are from Asia. China, India, Hong Kong, and the Philippines are among the largest source countries.
  • Compared with Australia and the United States, Canada has the highest percentage of immigrants from Africa, including South Africa, Egypt, and Morrocco.

United States
  • There were 31.1 million foreign born in the United States in 2000, representing 11 percent of the total population of 281.4 million.
  • Over half of all immigrants in the United States are from the Americas, predominantly Mexico, but Cuba, Canada, and El Salvador are also among the largest source countries.
  • Over one-fourth of all immigrants in the United States are from Asia. The Philippines, India, China, Vietnam, and Korea are among the largest source countries.
  • Only 16 percent of all immigrants in the United States are from Europe. Germany is one of the largest source countries.

The Foreign Born in Australia, Canada, and the United States
by Region of Origin
Region
Australia: 2001
Canada: 2001
United States: 2000
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Total foreign born 4,105,688 100.0 5,647,125 100.0 31,107,889 100.0
Africa 184,182 4.5 304,680 5.4 881,300 2.8
Americas 160,877 3.9 883,530 15.6 16,916,416 54.4
Asia 1,173,407 28.6 2,072,690 36.7 8,226,254 26.4
Europe 2,114,172 51.5 2,329,870 41.3 4,915,557 15.8
Oceania 455,283 11.1 52,185 0.9 168,046 0.5
Other 17,767 0.4 4,165 0.1 316 --
-- Figure rounds to 0.0.

Notes:
1) The total population of Australia in 2001 was 18,972,350; for Canada in 2001, it was 30,007,094; and for the United States in 2000, it was 281,421,906.
2) For Canada, the number of foreign born for the total and each region category was rounded to end in either 0 or 5. Hence, the sum of all regions will not equal the value given for the total foreign-born population.

Source:
Census of Australia, 2001; Census of Canada, 2001; US Census 2000

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