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 Heidelberg Heights were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Heidelberg Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Heidelberg Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Heidelberg Heights, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).
English
2021 count
1,845
% of total
13.7%
Change from 2016
-5.3pp
1,845
13.7%
-5.3pp
Australian
2021 count
1,653
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
-16.3pp
1,653
12.3%
-16.3pp
Irish
2021 count
722
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-4.1pp
722
5.4%
-4.1pp
Italian
2021 count
659
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-
659
4.9%
-
Scottish
2021 count
531
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-12.8pp
531
3.9%
-12.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
490
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-
490
3.6%
-
Greek
2021 count
371
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-
371
2.8%
-
Somali
2021 count
214
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
214
1.6%
-
Indian
2021 count
193
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
193
1.4%
-
German
2021 count
191
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
191
1.4%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,837
-5.3pp
Australian
+1,641
-16.3pp
Irish
+718
-4.1pp
Scottish
+524
-12.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Heidelberg Heights. 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 | 1,845 | 13.7% | 15.7% | 8 | 19.0% | 15.8% | +1,837 | -5.3pp |
| Australian | 1,653 | 12.3% | 14.6% | 12 | 28.6% | 14.5% | +1,641 | -16.3pp |
| Irish | 722 | 5.4% | 6.1% | 4 | 9.5% | 6.6% | +718 | -4.1pp |
| Italian | 659 | 4.9% | 5.3% | - | - | 5.0% | - | - |
| Scottish | 531 | 3.9% | 4.8% | 7 | 16.7% | 4.7% | +524 | -12.8pp |
| Chinese | 490 | 3.6% | 3.5% | - | - | 3.0% | - | - |
| Greek | 371 | 2.8% | 2.1% | - | - | 1.9% | - | - |
| Somali | 214 | 1.6% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Indian | 193 | 1.4% | 1.3% | - | - | 1.2% | - | - |
| German | 191 | 1.4% | 1.7% | - | - | 1.7% | - | - |
| Total | 13,460 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 42 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +13,418 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).