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 Viewbank were English, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Viewbank - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Viewbank in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Viewbank, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).
English
2021 count
1,830
% of total
26.0%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
1,830
26.0%
-1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,783
% of total
25.4%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
1,783
25.4%
-1.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
974
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
974
13.9%
+3.5pp
Italian
2021 count
753
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
753
10.7%
-1.5pp
Irish
2021 count
636
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
636
9.0%
-1.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
510
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
510
7.3%
+0.3pp
Greek
2021 count
358
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
358
5.1%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
308
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
308
4.4%
+1.2pp
German
2021 count
219
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
219
3.1%
-0.2pp
Macedonian
2021 count
121
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
121
1.7%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-79
-1.6pp
Australian
-71
-1.4pp
Chinese
+253
+3.5pp
Italian
-90
-1.5pp
Irish
-119
-1.9pp
Scottish
+23
+0.3pp
Greek
+6
0.0pp
Indian
+84
+1.2pp
German
-11
-0.2pp
Macedonian
+17
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Viewbank. 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 | 1,830 | 26.0% | 31.3% | 1,909 | 27.6% | 31.6% | -79 | -1.6pp |
| Australian | 1,783 | 25.4% | 29.1% | 1,854 | 26.8% | 29.0% | -71 | -1.4pp |
| Chinese | 974 | 13.9% | 7.0% | 721 | 10.4% | 6.0% | +253 | +3.5pp |
| Italian | 753 | 10.7% | 10.5% | 843 | 12.2% | 10.1% | -90 | -1.5pp |
| Irish | 636 | 9.0% | 12.2% | 755 | 10.9% | 13.2% | -119 | -1.9pp |
| Scottish | 510 | 7.3% | 9.6% | 487 | 7.0% | 9.4% | +23 | +0.3pp |
| Greek | 358 | 5.1% | 4.1% | 352 | 5.1% | 3.8% | +6 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 308 | 4.4% | 2.6% | 224 | 3.2% | 2.4% | +84 | +1.2pp |
| German | 219 | 3.1% | 3.3% | 230 | 3.3% | 3.5% | -11 | -0.2pp |
| Macedonian | 121 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 104 | 1.5% | 1.3% | +17 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).