African Australian

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African Australians
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Total population
248,605 (by country of birth, 2006) 2.2% of Australia's Population (by ancestry, 2006)[1]
Regions with significant populations
All capital cities
predominately Melbourne, Sydney and Perth
Languages

English, Afrikaans, Arabic, Dinka, Swahili

Religion

Predominantly Christianity, Islam

Related ethnic groups

Africans, Sub-Saharan Africans, North African, White Africans of European ancestry

African Australians are Australian citizens and residents born in, or with ancestors from Africa. Immigration from Africa to Australia is only a recent phenomenon, with Europe and Asia traditionally being the largest sources of migration to Australia. In 2005-06 permanent settler arrivals to Australia included 4,000 South Africans and 3,800 Sudanese, constituting the sixth and seventh largest sources of migrants respectively.[2]

Contents

Overview [edit]

There is no clear definition of what constitutes being an "African Australian". The Australian Bureau of Statistics records people according to their birthplace and their self-described ancestry, although aggregated data for Africa is split between "Sub-Saharan" and "North Africa.

African immigrants to Australia include people of diverse cultural, linguistic, racial, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds.[3] However, immigration from Africa to Australia remained limited until the 1990s.

Demographics [edit]

Most African immigrants in Australia come from South Africa and are largely of Afrikaner and British descent. Other South Africans emigrate courtesy of skilled migration programs. Opportunities in Australia, as well as push factors such as rising crime, unemployment and complications arising from the Black Economic Empowerment policies in their home country, have prompted many South Africans to migrate. Earlier, Australia had taken in Zimbabwe migrants who left under following the end of white minority rule.[4]

Recent conflicts in various parts of Africa, particularly around the Horn of Africa, have prompted people to migrate through humanitarian programs.

Australia also has taken in refugees who left due to conflicts that emerged in the 1990s, such as in Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Congo, Rwanda and Sudan.[5]

At the 2006 Census, 248,605 residents declared that they were born in Africa.[1]

Major countries of birth of African immigrants to Australia (2006 Census)
Country Population Main city and proportion who live there
South Africa 104,128 Sydney (27.3%)
Egypt 33,497 Sydney (48.5%)
Zimbabwe 20,157 Perth (24.7%)
Sudan 19,049 Melbourne (31.0%)
Mauritius 18,175 Melbourne (48.6%)
Kenya 9,940 Perth (26.9%)
Ethiopia 5,633 Melbourne (53.9%)
Somalia 4,316 Melbourne (60.1%)
Zambia 4,082 Perth (30.7%)
Ghana 2,771 Sydney (51.0%)

See also [edit]

Notes [edit]

External links [edit]