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 Lower Plenty were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lower Plenty - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lower Plenty in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lower Plenty, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).
English
2021 count
1,473
% of total
37.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,473
37.2%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
1,280
% of total
32.3%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
1,280
32.3%
-1.9pp
Irish
2021 count
523
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
523
13.2%
-0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
492
% of total
12.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
492
12.4%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
434
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
434
11.0%
+0.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
176
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
176
4.4%
+1.0pp
German
2021 count
154
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
154
3.9%
-0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
125
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
125
3.2%
+0.2pp
Macedonian
2021 count
76
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
76
1.9%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
53
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
53
1.3%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+42
+0.4pp
Australian
-50
-1.9pp
Irish
-9
-0.5pp
Scottish
+32
+0.6pp
Italian
+41
+0.9pp
Chinese
+44
+1.0pp
German
0
-0.1pp
Greek
+7
+0.2pp
Macedonian
+5
+0.1pp
Dutch
+17
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lower Plenty. 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 | 1,473 | 37.2% | 31.3% | 1,431 | 36.8% | 31.6% | +42 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 1,280 | 32.3% | 29.1% | 1,330 | 34.2% | 29.0% | -50 | -1.9pp |
| Irish | 523 | 13.2% | 12.2% | 532 | 13.7% | 13.2% | -9 | -0.5pp |
| Scottish | 492 | 12.4% | 9.6% | 460 | 11.8% | 9.4% | +32 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 434 | 11.0% | 10.5% | 393 | 10.1% | 10.1% | +41 | +0.9pp |
| Chinese | 176 | 4.4% | 7.0% | 132 | 3.4% | 6.0% | +44 | +1.0pp |
| German | 154 | 3.9% | 3.3% | 154 | 4.0% | 3.5% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| Greek | 125 | 3.2% | 4.1% | 118 | 3.0% | 3.8% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| Macedonian | 76 | 1.9% | 1.5% | 71 | 1.8% | 1.3% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 53 | 1.3% | 1.4% | 36 | 0.9% | 1.3% | +17 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).