Colombia-Born Community Information Summary Historical Background

Colombia-born Community Information Summary Historical Background

The first indication of Colombia-born presence in Australia was documented in the 1911 Census when four Colombians were counted. Subsequent censuses included Colombians in the category of 'other countries in South America' making it impossible to determine the exact number. However, the entire Latin America-born community in Australia remained small.

Colombian migration to Australia remained negligible until the Australian Government's assisted passage migration program was extended to Latin America countries, including Colombia, in the late 1960s. Since then, small but steady numbers of Colombians have been migrating to Australia, mainly towards a skilled labour force but also a small number of political refugees.

In Australia of the Colombia-born, more than 70 per cent arrived in Australia after 2006. Recent Colombian migration is often temporary, with migration mainly for economic or tertiary opportunities, rather than due to the social or economic climate of Colombia.

Like most Latin America-born Australians, the majority of Colombians are of Mestizo descent (ancestors of mixed Spanish and indigenous American Indian origin) and speak Spanish.

2016 Census

Geographic Distribution The latest Census in 2016 recorded 18,997 Colombia-born people in Australia, an increase of 67.9 per cent from the 2011 Census.

The 2016 distribution by State and Territory showed New South Wales had the largest number with 6,742 followed by Victoria (5,334), Queensland (4,285) and Western Australia (1,704). Age and Sex The median age of the Colombia-born in 2016 was 33 years compared with 44 Age and Sex Per cent years for all overseas-born and 38 (%) Male Female years for the total Australian population. 25

20 The age distribution showed 3.3 per cent were aged 0-14 years, 12.0 per 15 cent were 15-24 years, 67.9 per cent were 25-44 years, 12.9 per cent were 10 45-64 years and 3.8 per cent were 65 years and over. 5

0 Of the Colombia-born in Australia, there were 8,710 males (45.8 per cent) and 10,280 females (54.1 per cent). The sex ratio was 85 males per 100 Age females.

Ancestry

In the 2016 Census, the top ancestry Colombian Ancestry Response responses* that Colombia-born people 64.7% reported were Colombian (13,371), Spanish (3,424) and Peoples of the Americas, nfd (884).

In the 2016 Census, Australians reported over 300 different ancestries. Of the total ancestry responses* 17,989 responses were towards Spanish Colombian ancestry. 16.6%

Peoples of * At the 2016 Census up to two responses per person Other the Americas, South were allowed for the Ancestry question, therefore Ancestry nfd American, nfd 11.2% 4.3% there can be more responses than total persons. 3.3%

Language Language Spoken at Home Spanish The main languages spoken at home 88.6% by Colombia-born people in Australia were Spanish (16,825), English (1,861) and Italian (49).

Of the 17,062 Colombia-born who spoke a language other than English at home, 88.3 per cent spoke English very well or well, and 11.1 per cent English spoke English not well or not at all. 9.8% Other Italian Languages French 0.3% 0.7% 0.1% Religion

At the 2016 Census the major religious Religion affiliations amongst Colombia-born CatholicCatholic were Catholic (12,819), Christian, nfd 67.5%67.5% (1,100) and Pentecostal (369).

Of the Colombia-born, 17.4 per cent stated 'No Religion' which was lower than that of the total Australian population (29.6 per cent), and 2.8 per cent did not state a religion. Christian, nfd No Religion, 5.8% so describedOther Religion Christian, nfdPentecostal 17.4% Anglican OtherPentecostal 3.7% Anglican5.8% 1.9% 0.6% Religion1.9% 3.7% 0.6%

Arrival

Compared to 61.8 per cent of the total overseas-born population, 28.4 per Arrival in Australia cent of the Colombia-born people in Per cent (%) Colombia-born All Overseas-born Australia arrived in Australia prior to 45 2007. 40 35 30 25 Among the total Colombia-born in 20 Australia at the 2016 Census, 27.3 per 15 cent arrived between 2007 and 2011 10 and 39.6 per cent arrived between 5 2012 and 2016. 0

Year of Arrival

Median Income At the time of the 2016 Census, the median Individual Weekly Income for the Colombia-born in Australia aged 15 years and over was $604, compared with $615 for all overseas-born and $688 for all Australian-born.

The total Australian population aged 15 and over had a median Individual Weekly Income of $662. Qualifications Qualifications At the 2016 Census, 82.0 per cent of the Per cent Colombia-born Total Population Colombia-born aged 15 years and over (%) 70 had some form of higher non-school qualification compared to 60.1 per cent of 60 the Australian population. 50 40 Of the Colombia-born aged 15 years and 30 over, 9.0 per cent had no qualifications and were still attending an educational 20 institution. The corresponding rate for the 10 total Australian population was 8.5 per 0 cent. Degree and Advanced Certificate Level Inad No higher Diploma and Level Desc/Not Qualifications Diploma Level stated - Attending Ed Inst Level of Qualification

Employment Occupation Among Colombia-born people aged 15 Per cent Colombia-born Total Population years and over, the participation rate in (%) the labour force was 83.3 per cent and 30 the unemployment rate was 8.0 per cent. 25

The corresponding rates in the total 20 Australian population were 64.6 per cent and 6.9 per cent respectively. 15

10 Of the 14,004 Colombia-born who were employed, 39.0 per cent were employed in 5 either a skilled managerial, professional or 0 trade occupation. The corresponding rate Managers Prof Tech & Comm & Clerical Sales Mach Labourers in the total Australian population was 48.8 Trades Personal & Wrkrs Op & per cent. Service Admin Drivers Occupation

Produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the Department of Home Affairs

All data used in this summary is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing.