Band 8+: The bar chart illustrates the number of immigrants to different regions of Australia. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The diagram depicts the number of immigrant to particular regions of Australia between 1987 and 1997. The figures are given in percentages.

Overall, what stands out from the chart is that while Oceania and Asia saw an increase in the number of immigrants, there was a decline for Europe and North/South America. On the other hand, the quantity of immigrants to Middle & East Africa, along with the rest of Asia, remained stable.

Turning to the details, as regards Oceania and Asia, there was a climb from 1987 to 1997, going from 16% to 22% and 15% to 24% respectively. This means that Asia’s migrant share was the fastest growing.

If we look at Europe and North/South America’s proportion of immigrant, the trend went in the opposite direction, falling from 30% and 22% in 1987, to 25% and 13% in 1997, which meant that Europe contributed the most in both years.

By contrast, the percentage of immigrants from Middle & East Africa, and the rest of Asia stayed the same throughout the time period, at around 7% and 5% respectively.