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 Bellfield (Banyule - Vic.) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bellfield (Banyule - Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bellfield (Banyule - Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bellfield (Banyule - Vic.), with comparison markers for Banyule (C).
English
2021 count
513
% of total
25.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
513
25.7%
+0.5pp
Australian
2021 count
461
% of total
23.1%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
461
23.1%
-0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
198
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
198
9.9%
-1.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
160
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
160
8.0%
+0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
144
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
144
7.2%
+0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
120
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
120
6.0%
+0.8pp
Greek
2021 count
106
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
106
5.3%
+0.8pp
Somali
2021 count
102
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
102
5.1%
+0.5pp
Lebanese
2021 count
86
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
86
4.3%
-1.2pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
65
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
65
3.3%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+62
+0.5pp
Australian
+32
-0.8pp
Irish
-12
-1.8pp
Chinese
+30
+0.7pp
Scottish
+30
+0.8pp
Italian
+26
+0.8pp
Greek
+25
+0.8pp
Somali
+19
+0.5pp
Lebanese
-12
-1.2pp
Vietnamese
+10
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bellfield (Banyule - Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Banyule (C)% | Count | % | Banyule (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 513 | 25.7% | 31.3% | 451 | 25.2% | 31.6% | +62 | +0.5pp |
| Australian | 461 | 23.1% | 29.1% | 429 | 23.9% | 29.0% | +32 | -0.8pp |
| Irish | 198 | 9.9% | 12.2% | 210 | 11.7% | 13.2% | -12 | -1.8pp |
| Chinese | 160 | 8.0% | 7.0% | 130 | 7.3% | 6.0% | +30 | +0.7pp |
| Scottish | 144 | 7.2% | 9.6% | 114 | 6.4% | 9.4% | +30 | +0.8pp |
| Italian | 120 | 6.0% | 10.5% | 94 | 5.2% | 10.1% | +26 | +0.8pp |
| Greek | 106 | 5.3% | 4.1% | 81 | 4.5% | 3.8% | +25 | +0.8pp |
| Somali | 102 | 5.1% | 0.8% | 83 | 4.6% | 0.9% | +19 | +0.5pp |
| Lebanese | 86 | 4.3% | 0.9% | 98 | 5.5% | 0.9% | -12 | -1.2pp |
| Vietnamese | 65 | 3.3% | 0.9% | 55 | 3.1% | 0.8% | +10 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).