Cultural diversity
Ancestry
About this topic
Ancestry describes a person's cultural association and ethnic background, and Census respondents can report more than one ancestry. It is a broader cultural measure than country of birth because it can reflect family heritage across generations.
This topic helps show the size and diversity of cultural groups in an area, including groups whose members were born in Australia. Because multiple ancestries can be reported, ancestry totals can exceed the total population, so it is best read with birthplace, language used at home, and religion.
Interpretation notes
- People can report up to two ancestries, so category totals represent responses rather than a single unduplicated person count.
- ABS advises that ancestry is best used with birthplace and language, because ancestry alone is a broad measure of ethnicity and cultural background.
- The 2021 form added separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mark boxes, so those categories need caution in over-time comparison.
Key insight
In 2021, the largest ancestry groups among residents in Ballarat (C) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Ballarat (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Ballarat (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ballarat (C), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
47,549
% of total
41.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
47,549
41.8%
0.0pp
Australian
2021 count
44,841
% of total
39.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
44,841
39.4%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
17,203
% of total
15.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
17,203
15.1%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
14,302
% of total
12.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
14,302
12.6%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
4,963
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
4,963
4.4%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
3,178
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,178
2.8%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
3,039
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,039
2.7%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,997
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
1,997
1.8%
+1.6pp
Indian
2021 count
1,969
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,969
1.7%
+0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,929
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,929
1.7%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+5,095
0.0pp
Australian
+4,561
-0.2pp
Irish
+1,140
-0.7pp
Scottish
+1,874
+0.4pp
German
+576
+0.1pp
Dutch
+523
+0.2pp
Italian
+528
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+1,825
+1.6pp
Indian
+841
+0.6pp
Chinese
+296
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Ballarat (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 47,549 | 41.8% | 40.6% | 42,454 | 41.8% | 40.1% | +5,095 | 0.0pp |
| Australian | 44,841 | 39.4% | 39.2% | 40,280 | 39.6% | 40.0% | +4,561 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 17,203 | 15.1% | 12.9% | 16,063 | 15.8% | 13.0% | +1,140 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 14,302 | 12.6% | 11.7% | 12,428 | 12.2% | 11.3% | +1,874 | +0.4pp |
| German | 4,963 | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4,387 | 4.3% | 4.6% | +576 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 3,178 | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2,655 | 2.6% | 2.2% | +523 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 3,039 | 2.7% | 3.9% | 2,511 | 2.5% | 3.7% | +528 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 1,997 | 1.8% | 1.9% | 172 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +1,825 | +1.6pp |
| Indian | 1,969 | 1.7% | 1.0% | 1,128 | 1.1% | 0.7% | +841 | +0.6pp |
| Chinese | 1,929 | 1.7% | 1.1% | 1,633 | 1.6% | 1.0% | +296 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).