In Australia, most of the Middle Eastern-born population live in Sydney (58.1%) or Melbourne (26.0%). Less than 5% reside in each of the other mainland state capitals, with less than 1% in each territory and Tasmania. Place of residence information for persons born in the six main countries of birth is presented below.

At the time of the Census almost three-quarters (72.8%) of those born in Lebanon resided in Sydney, with 19.6% in Melbourne. Similarly, people born in Iraq were mostly living in Sydney (62.2%) or Melbourne (24.5%).

USUAL RESIDENCE, Persons born in Lebanon and Iraq, 2006

Together, Victoria and New South Wales accounted for 90.8% of people born in Turkey with 46.4% in Melbourne, 37.1% in Sydney, 3.7% in the rest of Victoria and 3.6% in the rest of New South Wales. In contrast, people born in Iran had a more diverse residential distribution, with 50.6% living in Sydney, 18.3% in Melbourne, 9.4% in Perth, 7.6% in Adelaide and 5.4% in Brisbane.

People born in Israel were mostly living in Melbourne (40.8%) followed by Sydney (36.3%) while most of the Syria-born residents were in Sydney (62.1%) followed by Melbourne (26.0%).

USUAL RESIDENCE, Persons born in Turkey, Iran, Israel and Syria, 2006