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 Highett (part) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Highett (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Highett (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Bayside (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Highett (part), with comparison markers for Bayside (C).
English
2021 count
4,119
% of total
34.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
4,119
34.3%
+1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
3,450
% of total
28.7%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
3,450
28.7%
-1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,509
% of total
12.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,509
12.6%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,241
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,241
10.3%
+0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
621
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
621
5.2%
+0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
614
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
614
5.1%
+0.6pp
Greek
2021 count
505
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
505
4.2%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
452
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
452
3.8%
+0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
314
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
314
2.6%
+0.2pp
Polish
2021 count
238
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
238
2.0%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+653
+1.2pp
Australian
+327
-1.1pp
Irish
+208
+0.2pp
Scottish
+240
+0.7pp
Italian
+135
+0.6pp
Chinese
+139
+0.6pp
Greek
+18
-0.5pp
German
+71
+0.2pp
Indian
+61
+0.2pp
Polish
+59
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Highett (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Bayside (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Bayside (C)% | Count | % | Bayside (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 4,119 | 34.3% | 38.0% | 3,466 | 33.1% | 38.0% | +653 | +1.2pp |
| Australian | 3,450 | 28.7% | 29.6% | 3,123 | 29.8% | 29.9% | +327 | -1.1pp |
| Irish | 1,509 | 12.6% | 13.2% | 1,301 | 12.4% | 13.6% | +208 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,241 | 10.3% | 11.4% | 1,001 | 9.6% | 11.4% | +240 | +0.7pp |
| Italian | 621 | 5.2% | 5.6% | 486 | 4.6% | 5.2% | +135 | +0.6pp |
| Chinese | 614 | 5.1% | 4.7% | 475 | 4.5% | 3.7% | +139 | +0.6pp |
| Greek | 505 | 4.2% | 4.1% | 487 | 4.7% | 3.8% | +18 | -0.5pp |
| German | 452 | 3.8% | 4.3% | 381 | 3.6% | 4.2% | +71 | +0.2pp |
| Indian | 314 | 2.6% | 1.4% | 253 | 2.4% | 1.3% | +61 | +0.2pp |
| Polish | 238 | 2.0% | 1.9% | 179 | 1.7% | 1.8% | +59 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).