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 West were English, Australian and Somali.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Heidelberg West - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Heidelberg West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Heidelberg West, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).
English
2021 count
1,297
% of total
24.7%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
1,297
24.7%
+2.8pp
Australian
2021 count
1,149
% of total
21.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,149
21.9%
-0.3pp
Somali
2021 count
507
% of total
9.7%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
507
9.7%
-1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
459
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
459
8.7%
+1.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
408
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
408
7.8%
+1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
394
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
394
7.5%
+1.6pp
Italian
2021 count
227
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
227
4.3%
+1.3pp
Greek
2021 count
155
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
155
3.0%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
131
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
131
2.5%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
127
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
127
2.4%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+81
+2.8pp
Australian
-84
-0.3pp
Somali
-106
-1.4pp
Irish
+72
+1.7pp
Chinese
+63
+1.6pp
Scottish
+68
+1.6pp
Italian
+60
+1.3pp
Greek
+29
+0.7pp
German
-9
0.0pp
Indian
-28
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Heidelberg West. 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 | 1,297 | 24.7% | 31.3% | 1,216 | 21.9% | 31.6% | +81 | +2.8pp |
| Australian | 1,149 | 21.9% | 29.1% | 1,233 | 22.2% | 29.0% | -84 | -0.3pp |
| Somali | 507 | 9.7% | 0.8% | 613 | 11.1% | 0.9% | -106 | -1.4pp |
| Irish | 459 | 8.7% | 12.2% | 387 | 7.0% | 13.2% | +72 | +1.7pp |
| Chinese | 408 | 7.8% | 7.0% | 345 | 6.2% | 6.0% | +63 | +1.6pp |
| Scottish | 394 | 7.5% | 9.6% | 326 | 5.9% | 9.4% | +68 | +1.6pp |
| Italian | 227 | 4.3% | 10.5% | 167 | 3.0% | 10.1% | +60 | +1.3pp |
| Greek | 155 | 3.0% | 4.1% | 126 | 2.3% | 3.8% | +29 | +0.7pp |
| German | 131 | 2.5% | 3.3% | 140 | 2.5% | 3.5% | -9 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 127 | 2.4% | 2.6% | 155 | 2.8% | 2.4% | -28 | -0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).