Italian Australians
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (Italian 185,402 (by birth, 2011) 916,121 (by ancestry, 2011)) |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Newcastle, Griffith, Darwin | |
| Languages | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Roman Catholicism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Italian Americans, Italian Canadians, Italian South Africans, Italian Brazilians, Italian British, Italian New Zealanders |
Italian Australians comprise the fourth largest ethnic group in Australia, consisting of migrants from Italy as well as their descendants born in Australia of Italian heritage. The 2006 Census counted 199,124 people who were born in Italy. In 2011, 916,100 persons identified themselves as having Italian ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry (4.6%). Italian is the fifth most identified ancestry in Australia behind 'Australian', 'English', 'Irish' and 'Scottish' and just ahead of 'German' (according to the ABS 2011 Census). Italian is the second most utilised language at home, with 316,900 speakers (or 1.6% of the Australian population). Since the arrivals, the Italo-Australian Dialect came into note in the 1970s by Italian linguist Tullio De Mauro.
Italians are well represented in every Australian town and region but there is a disproportionate concentration in Victoria (41.6% compared to 25% of the general Australian population) and South Australia (11.3% compared to 7.6%).
According to 2006 census data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 95% of Italian born Australians recorded their religion as Christian. 79.7% Catholic, 3.2% Anglican, 5.6% Other Christian, 1.6% Other Religions and 10.0% No Religion.
As the level of immigration from Italy dropped significantly from the 1970s, the Australian population born in Italy is aging. About 63% of the population born in Italy was aged sixty years old or older at the time of the 2006 Census. 176,536 or 89% arrived before 1980.
As of the 2006 census, 162,107 (81.4%) speak Italian at home. Proficiency in English was self-described by census respondents as very well by 28%, well by 32%, 21% not well (18% didn't state or said not applicable).
Of the Australian residents who were born in Italy, 157,209 or 79% were Australian citizens at the time of the 2006 census.
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