A demographic survey among a probability sample of 980 married migrant women was carried out in Sydney in 1988. The sample included 507 Lebanese, 250 Turkish and 223 Vietnamese women. The study revealed differences in family formation patterns within and between the three groups and between them and the general population. Family size had declined among all three groups compared with their family of origin, and it was clear that the younger women would not achieve the same family sizes as the older women. Migrant women tended to marry earlier than the general population and to start their families earlier. While they showed a strong preference for their children to marry within their own ethnic and religious group, nearly one-third said it was up to the choice of the individual. Overall, the future family size of younger migrant women is expected to converge towards the Australian norm. Migrant families are in a state of transition between two cultures which needs to be recognised by health and family planning service providers.Data were obtained from a 1988 Demographic Survey among a two-stage probability sample of 980 married migrant women living in Sydney, Australia. Migrants included 507 Lebanese women, 250 Turkish women, and 223 Vietnamese women. Age groups varied among the ethnic groups. All of the Vietnamese migrants arrived after 1975, while 51% of the Lebanese and 55% of the Turkish women arrived before 1975. By 1991-92, the Vietnamese were the third largest group of new migrants, following after the UK and Hong Kong. Educational levels and labor force participation were lower among the Lebanese. Vietnamese women had the highest educational levels, but the lowest levels of skills in English. Only 4% of Vietnamese spoke English compared with 25% of Lebanese and 21% of Turkish women. Vietnamese were primarily Buddhists, while Lebanese were Catholics and Muslims. All Turkish women were Muslim. Over 90% in each ethnic group were married. Separation and divorce was at a low level (under 5%), but higher among the Vietnamese and Turkish women. Most were married only once. The common age at first marriage was 17-19 years among Lebanese and Turkish women and 20-23 years among Vietnamese women. All migrant women married at younger ages than Australian women. All migrant women reported a desire for their sons and daughters to marry later. 97% of Lebanese, 99% of Turkish, and 80% of Vietnamese married men from the same religious group, and 93%, 94%, and 92%, respectively, married men from their own country of birth. Lebanese women had consistently higher fertility at all ages. The average number of live births was 2.61 for the Vietnamese, 2.05 for the Turkish, and 3.83 for the Lebanese. A mother's fertility was not related to a daughter's fertility. Compared with families of origin, family sizes and desires were declining. It is expected that younger migrant women will have a family size that converges with the Australian norm.

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