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 Watsonia North were Australian, English and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Watsonia North - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Watsonia North in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Watsonia North, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,168
% of total
15.4%
Change from 2016
-17.5pp
1,168
15.4%
-17.5pp
English
2021 count
1,075
% of total
14.2%
Change from 2016
-12.9pp
1,075
14.2%
-12.9pp
Italian
2021 count
543
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-
543
7.2%
-
Irish
2021 count
480
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-
480
6.3%
-
Scottish
2021 count
340
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-
340
4.5%
-
Greek
2021 count
238
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-
238
3.1%
-
Chinese
2021 count
217
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-
217
2.9%
-
German
2021 count
108
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
108
1.4%
-
Macedonian
2021 count
89
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
89
1.2%
-
Indian
2021 count
87
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
87
1.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+1,145
-17.5pp
English
+1,056
-12.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Watsonia North. 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 | |
| Australian | 1,168 | 15.4% | 14.6% | 23 | 32.9% | 14.5% | +1,145 | -17.5pp |
| English | 1,075 | 14.2% | 15.7% | 19 | 27.1% | 15.8% | +1,056 | -12.9pp |
| Italian | 543 | 7.2% | 5.3% | - | - | 5.0% | - | - |
| Irish | 480 | 6.3% | 6.1% | - | - | 6.6% | - | - |
| Scottish | 340 | 4.5% | 4.8% | - | - | 4.7% | - | - |
| Greek | 238 | 3.1% | 2.1% | - | - | 1.9% | - | - |
| Chinese | 217 | 2.9% | 3.5% | - | - | 3.0% | - | - |
| German | 108 | 1.4% | 1.7% | - | - | 1.7% | - | - |
| Macedonian | 89 | 1.2% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Indian | 87 | 1.1% | 1.3% | - | - | 1.2% | - | - |
| Total | 7,572 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 70 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,502 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).