Share this @internewscast.com FacebookXRedditPinterest ‘A pathway to a better future’ Anil Kumar shows off his food truck’s visa-themed menu. Credit: SBS Hindi “It’s (Australia) a great place to settle down, and so migration is a big issue here — visa stress is something many of us deal with,” Anil, who also runs an immigration services, said. “That’s what inspired me to give the menu of my food truck in Melbourne a fun, visa-themed twist.” Anil Kumar’s visa-themed menu. Credit: SBS Hindi The menu features names like “Illegal Samosa,” “Parent Visa Aloo Tikki,” “Spouse Visa Dahi Bhalle,” and “Student Visa Pani Puri.” Population growth and changing demographics said that between 2014 and 2024, more people moved to Australia from India than from any other country, with the Indian-born population growing by 505,000 during the period. During the same period, Australia saw the biggest population drops among people born in four European countries, with Italy no longer among the top 10 countries of birth in the nation for the first time since 1901. As of 30 June 2024, Australia was home to an estimated 27.2 million people, the ABS said. Of Australia’s population, 18.6 million were born in Australia, while 8.6 million were born overseas. Source: SIPA USA / Hindustan Times / AAP As of 2024, people born overseas now make up 31.5 per cent of Australia’s population, up from 30.7 per cent the previous year. This marks the third consecutive year of growth in Australia’s overseas-born population, bouncing back from a dip in 2021 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and international border closures. The ABS further said that Australia’s multicultural mix includes people from almost every country around the globe. The most common countries of birth for migrants in 2024 were England, India, China, New Zealand and the Philippines. Expert’s view Dr Surjeet Dogra Dhanji, an academic fellow at the University of Melbourne, said the growing Indian diaspora in Australia was no surprise. “India has one of the largest overseas populations in the world — around — with nearly half of them being Non-Resident Indians (NRIs),” she explained. NRI commonly refers to Indian citizens who reside outside India for more than 182 days in a year due to reasons like work, education or business. Dr Surjeet Dhanji is a researcher at the University of Melbourne. Credit: Supplied by Dr Surjeet Dhanji “The biggest increase is in Victoria, which now has the largest India-born population, along with strong second and third-generation Indian communities,” Dr Dhanji noted. She added that Indian migrants tend to be younger compared to the broader Australian population — a key factor in the government’s migration planning. The Indian population has been growing steadily in Australia. Credit: AAPIMAGE In fact, she said, most overseas-born migrants fall in the 24–45 age group, while Australia’s median age continues to rise. ABS data confirms this, noting that in 2024, the more recently arrived India-born population had a median age of 33 years, compared to 29 years for those born in Nepal and 40 years for the China-born population. Dhanji further noted that, as reflected in the 2024 study, the Indian diaspora was viewed positively, with their contributions to the state’s society, economy and culture held in high regard. “The Victorian government has played an instrumental role in shaping these community perceptions by encouraging engagement with India, promoting the state to Indian visitors, attracting Indian international students, and supporting the skilled migration of Indian professionals,” she added. Find our podcasts here at. You can also tune in toat 5pm onon digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via theor stream from