Bangladeshi Australians: Migration, Demographics, and Life in Australia
Bangladeshi Australians are Australian citizens or residents with full or partial Bangladeshi heritage, or those who migrated from Bangladesh. According to the 2021 census, around 51,491 Bangladesh-born people live in Australia. Additionally, there is a significant number of Australians of Bangladeshi descent born locally, though exact numbers are uncertain. Most Bangladeshi communities are concentrated in New South Wales and Victoria, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.
History of Bangladeshi Migration to Australia
Migration from Bangladesh to Australia is relatively recent. After Bangladesh gained independence in 1971, migration steadily increased, primarily through the Skilled Migration Program.
In the late 1990s to early 2010s, Bangladeshi migrants moved to more affordable suburbs like Lakemba, Rockdale, and Eastlakes in Sydney and Melbourne. More recently, families are relocating to suburbs further from city centers, such as Macquarie Fields, Tarneit, Minto, and Ingleburn, often seeking larger houses at lower costs.
Demographics
Population Growth
| Year | Bangladesh-born Population | Increase from Previous Census |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 41,233 | - |
| 2021 | 51,491 | +10,258 |
Gender Ratio: 53.5% male, 46.5% female
Citizenship: 67% Australian citizens
Age Distribution
| Age Group | % of Bangladesh-born |
|---|---|
| 0–14 | 7.8% |
| 15–24 | 10.1% |
| 25–34 | 36.1% |
| 35–44 | 28.6% |
| 45–54 | 10.3% |
| 55–64 | 5.4% |
| 65+ | 1.6% |
Median Age: 34 years (younger than the national average of 38)
Education
Bangladeshi Australians are highly educated: 68.4% of those aged 15+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, significantly above the national average of 26.3%.
| Education Level | % of Bangladesh-born |
|---|---|
| Bachelor & above | 63.6% |
| Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 7.8% |
| Certificate III/IV | 2.7% |
| Year 12 | 15.8% |
Cultural and Language Diversity
Religion: Islam 81.3%, Hinduism 6.9%, No Religion 3.2%, Catholic 1.6%, Buddhism 1.0%
Language: 5.7% speak only English; 87.2% speak another language (primarily Bengali) and also speak
English very well or well.
Employment and Occupation
| Employment Status | % of Bangladesh-born |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 55.2% |
| Part-time | 29.6% |
| Unemployed | 10.9% |
| Not in labor force | 25.7% |
Top Occupations: Professionals (27.5%), Community & Personal Service Workers (12.5%), Sales Workers (11.7%)
Top Industries: Supermarket & Grocery Stores (6.2%), Child Care Services (4.8%), Cafes & Restaurants (4.7%), Higher Education (4.2%)
Median Weekly Income: Personal $602, Family $1,414, Household $1,482
Travel to Work
Car: 51.4%, Bus/Train: 26.8%
Families
Family Type: Couple with children 69.9%, Couple without children 25.2%, One-parent family 3.8%
Employment Status of Couple Families: Both full-time 16.7%, One full-time & one part-time 18.6%, Both not working 8.4%
Dwellings and Housing
Separate house 42.4%, Flat/apartment 41.5%, Semi-detached/row/terrace 14.9%
Bedrooms: 2 bedrooms 37.7%, 3 bedrooms 27.4%, 4+ bedrooms 24.9%
Tenure: Rented 56.8%, Mortgage 34.9%, Owned outright 5.6%
Median Mortgage: $2,100/month, Median Rent: $360/week
Unpaid Work and Volunteering
75.2% performed unpaid domestic work, 45.3% cared for children, 14.1% did voluntary work through organizations.