The bar chart illustrates the proportions of immigrants to Australia originating from five countries – the UK, New Zealand, India, Vietnam and Italy – in 1962, 1982 and 2002.
Overall, Australia’s immigrant profile underwent a substantial transformation over the period. While Italy and New Zealand experienced pronounced declines in their contributions, India and Vietnam emerged as increasingly significant sources of migrants. Italy dominated in 1962, whereas Vietnam became the leading contributor two decades later.
In 1962, Italy accounted for by far the largest share, at approximately 40%. By comparison, the UK, New Zealand and Vietnam each contributed close to 10%, while India remained a marginal source, representing only about 3% of arrivals.
By 1982, Italy’s proportion had fallen sharply to around 20%, accompanied by a marked reduction in migration from New Zealand, which dropped to roughly 5%. In contrast, Vietnam recorded a dramatic surge, reaching 25% and overtaking all other countries. The UK also saw a moderate rise, increasing to approximately 17%.
In 2002, the distribution of immigrants became noticeably more balanced. Italy’s figure declined further to about 15%, while India rose steadily to just under this level, becoming the second-largest contributor. Meanwhile, the proportions from the UK and Vietnam converged at around 13%, and New Zealand remained the smallest source at approximately 5%.