Sudanese Australians are people of Sudanese ancestry or birth who live in Australia. The 2011 census recorded 19,369 people born in Sudan. Of these, the largest number were living in the state of Victoria, (6,085), followed by New South Wales (5,629), Western Australia (2,722) and then Queensland (2,582). 17,186 people indicated that they were of full or partial Sudanese ancestry.[2] The Department of Immigration and Citizenship notes that South Sudan became independent from the Republic of Sudan on 9 July 2011, shortly before the census, and that "country of birth figures as completed by individuals at the time of the 2011 Census may not fully reflect this change".[2] The census, held in August, included both Sudan and South Sudan amongst the country of birth and ancestry options.[3]
In the 2006 census, there were 19,049 Sudanese-born Australian residents, making up 0.1% of the population. Many of the Sudanese-born people recorded in the 2006 Australian census had arrived very recently: 77% since 2000.[4]
Between 1996 and 2005, the largest increase in Australian people born overseas were Sudanese, at 28% per year. Other fast-growing overseas-born groups were people from Afghanistan (12% average increase per year) and Iraq (10%). Australian residents from sub-Saharan Africa increased on average by 6% per year over this period.[5]
On the 2006 Census 17,848 residents in Australia claimed to have Sudanese ancestry.[6][7] People of Sudanese descent now live in almost every capital city in Australia, particularly Melbourne (5,911), Sydney (5,335) and Perth (1,993)[8]
Brief history
Early migration
Before the First Sudanese Civil War, most Sudanese migrants arrived in Australia to pursue educational opportunities in both undergraduate and post graduate institutions across Australia. The large number of Sudanese migrant settled in the states like Victoria and NSW of Australia.
After the first civil war
A larger influx of Sudanese emigrated to Australia as a result of political and economic problems. The most noticeable exodus occurred among professional and middle class Sudanese who along with their children took advantage of education and employment opportunities in Australia to emigrate.
After the second civil war
Since 1983, fighting between Sudan's Northern government and the rebels in the south has killed about 2 million people. The fighting in Sudan has interfered with the production and distribution of food and caused widespread hunger. Many civilians in southern Sudan had fled their region because of this crisis. Some Sudanese Australians returned to their ancestral homeland when the conflict officially ended in 2005.
Notable Sudanese Australians
See also
References
External links
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