Damon Mcknight
Australia is known for its cultural diversity, with a significant proportion of its population comprising people of Hispanic and Latin American origin. As of 2021, the country's population stood at 25.4 million, with 8.6 million residents born overseas, accounting for 31.5% of the total population. Among them are Hispanic and Latin American Australians, who have enriched the country's cultural landscape, particularly in the realm of cuisine, with Mexican food gaining immense popularity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total population of Australia | 27.2 million (June 2024) |
| Percentage of population born outside Australia | 31.5% (June 2024) |
| Number of people born in Hispanic/Latin American countries | 86,156 (2006) |
| Percentage of population of Hispanic/Latin American origin | 0.43% (2006), 1.12% (other statistics) |
| Number of residents with South American, Central American, or Caribbean ancestry | 93,795 |
| Largest group of Hispanic Australians by country of origin | Chile |
| Second-largest group of Hispanic Australians by country of origin | El Salvador |
| Percentage of Mexican-born Australians identifying as Catholic | 50% (2021) |
| Percentage of Mexican-born Australians with no religious affiliation | 36.8% (2021) |
| Percentage of Mexican-born Australians with Australian citizenship | 49.8% (2021) |
| Percentage of Mexicans in Australia with an Australian-born partner or spouse | 33% |
| Number of people born in Mexico living in Australia | 4,872 (2016) |
| Number of people born in Brazil living in Australia | 14,509 (2011) |
| Number of people born in Chile living in Australia | 23,305 (2006) |
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What You'll Learn
Mexican Australians
The Mexican-born population in Australia remains a relatively new and small migrant community. Small numbers of Mexicans arrived in Australia from 1970 to 1999, with approximately 750 people migrating during this period. The 21st century saw a significant increase in Mexican migration, with 2,055 arrivals recorded between 2000 and 2010. This trend continued, and by 2021, the Mexican-born population in Australia had grown to 6,845. Mexicans migrate to Australia for various reasons, including seeking a better quality of life, obtaining international experience, and securing a safe future for their children.
In terms of demographics and settlement patterns, the 2016 Census showed that 4,872 people in Australia were born in Mexico. Mexican Australians are concentrated in Brisbane and Sydney, with Sydney having the largest proportion of Hispanic and Latin American Australians.
An interesting aspect of the Mexican Australian community is the shift in religious practices compared to Mexico. While 78% of people in Mexico identify as Catholic, only 50% of Mexican-born Australians identify as such. Additionally, 36.8% of Mexican-born Australians reported no religious affiliation, which is three times the rate of non-religious affiliation in Mexico. This suggests that the secular environment and cultural integration processes in Australia may influence the religious practices of Mexican Australians.
Notable Mexican Australians include soccer player Marco Kurt, who plays for the Australian national team, and artist Sergio Redegalli, who is known for his controversial art exploring political and social issues.
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$14.99
Brazilian Australians
Brazilian culture has had a notable influence in Western Australia, particularly in Perth and Scarborough. Perth has attracted Brazilian migrants due to its excellent job opportunities and enviable outdoors culture. Brazilian students have also been drawn to the city's highly ranked universities, such as the University of Western Australia. The Brazilian community in Scarborough is especially vibrant, with Portuguese being the most commonly spoken language after English, earning the area the nickname 'Scar-Brazil'.
Brazilian culture has also influenced food and recreational activities in Australia. Mexican food, including tacos, enchiladas, tamales, tostadas, and empanadas, is widely popular in Australia. Additionally, Brazilian jiu-jitsu has gained a strong following, and Brazilian parties and carnivals attract thousands of attendees.
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Chilean Australians
Chilean migration to Australia began as early as the nineteenth century, with the first known Chilean, former president and political exile, General Ramón Freire, arriving in 1837 or 1838. Chile is geographically the closest country in the Americas to Australia, and both nations are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Cairns Group, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the OECD. They have enjoyed friendly relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1945 and marked the 70th anniversary of these relations in 2015.
Migration from Chile to Australia increased in the 1970s after the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, when several thousand Chileans fled political persecution and social instability under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, which lasted until 1990. By 1971, 3,760 Chilean-born people were registered in Australia, and in 1989, Chile returned to democracy. In 1993, President Patricio Aylwin became the first Chilean head of state to pay an official visit to Australia.
According to the 2006 Australian Census, 23,305 Australians were born in Chile, while 25,439 claimed Chilean ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry. The largest Chilean Australian communities are primarily found in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra, with Sydney having 10,909 residents of Chilean ancestry in 2006. A Chilean government study conducted in 2003-04 and published in 2005 found that 33,626 first and second-generation Chileans were living in Australia. Another estimate from 2006 placed the number of Chilean-Australians as high as 45,000.
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Salvadoran Australians
The history of Salvadoran Australians is closely tied to the Salvadoran Civil War, which lasted from 1979 to 1992. Australia and El Salvador established diplomatic relations in 1983, during the height of the conflict. As the civil war progressed, Australia accepted around 10,000 Salvadoran refugees between 1983 and 1986 under the Special Humanitarian Program. This initial group of refugees formed the foundation of the Salvadoran Australian community.
Many Salvadoran Australians are of mixed European and Amerindian (mestizo) ancestry, with a smaller minority of people with predominant or full European ancestry. The majority of those with European roots can trace their ancestry back to Spain, particularly the regions of Galicia and Asturias, with others hailing from Italy, Portugal, Germany, France, and Poland. Indigenous Salvadorans make up less than one percent of the Salvadoran Australian population and are mostly of Pipil and Lenca ancestries, with some Mayan heritage as well.
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Spanish Australians
The Spanish-Australian population primarily consists of those who migrated in the 1960s and their families. The 2021 Australian Census showed that around 50.1% of Spain-born people in Australia arrived before 1991. The median age for this cohort is 51 years, compared to 44 years for all overseas-born people in Australia and 38 years for the general population.
The number of Spanish-born people in Victoria increased from 374 in 1954 to 3,143 in 1966, following the 1958 Spanish-Australian migration agreement. This agreement provided assisted passages to Spanish migrants, many of whom were escaping poverty and hunger. However, economic improvements in Spain during subsequent decades coincided with a slowdown in Spanish immigration to Australia. The Spain-born community in Victoria has since declined, numbering 4,067 in 1986 and 3,523 in 2016. The community is aging, with 45% of its population between 50 and 75 years old. Most members of the community live in Geelong and work as professionals or tradespeople.
The first recorded Spaniard to permanently reside in Australia was a man who arrived in 1821 and settled in New South Wales. A few more Spanish settlers arrived during the gold rush of the 1850s, but their total numbers remained small throughout the 19th century, peaking at around 500 people. Spanish migration remained limited over the next century due to Australia's Immigration Acts, which restricted the entry of Southern Europeans. As a result, the Spain-born population grew slowly, numbering less than 1,000 people in 1947, with adult men comprising around 80% of this group.
While Spanish Australians may gravitate towards other Spanish speakers, they have not formed closely-knit community groups like other migrant groups. Spaniards in Australia may miss the social aspect of their culture, as socialising in Australia often involves travelling by car to meet friends, whereas bars and restaurants in Spain are typically within walking distance. Additionally, shops and utilities in Australia tend to close earlier than those in Spain. Some Spaniards in Australia have reported feeling slightly isolated from their local communities, as Australians tend to socialise privately at each other's homes more than Spaniards do.
Spanish culture in Victoria is maintained through SBS and community radio and television programs, such as The Spanish Herald. Notable Spanish Australians include Isaías Sánchez, a former football player and captain of Adelaide United; Miguel Maestre, a restaurateur and television presenter; and Alyssa Alano, an actress and model.
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Frequently asked questions
The Hispanic population in Australia is not easy to define as it is often grouped with Latin Americans, and official statistics vary. One source states that 1.12% of Australia's population is of Latin American origin, which would equate to around 296,400 people based on the 2024 population. Another source puts the number at 0.43%, which would be around 113,327 people.
The main countries of origin for Hispanic Australians vary depending on the time period. Chile was the largest source of Hispanic immigrants until 2006, when it was overtaken by Brazil. Other significant countries of origin include El Salvador, Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, and Mexico.
Most Hispanic Australians live in major cities, with the largest communities found in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
The history of Hispanic migration to Australia has evolved over time. Small numbers of Mexicans arrived between 1970 and 1999, and the 21st century marked a significant increase, with 2,055 arrivals recorded between 2000 and 2010. For Spanish Australians, the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s was a significant period, and the 1958 Spanish-Australian migration agreement also led to an increase in Spanish-born immigrants.
Hispanic culture has influenced various aspects of Australian society, particularly in the realm of cuisine. Mexican food, such as tacos, enchiladas, and empanadas, has gained popularity and is widely available in restaurants. Additionally, many distinguished Hispanic Australians have made contributions to sports, the arts, politics, and other areas.
