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 Sandringham (Vic.) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Sandringham (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Sandringham (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Bayside (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sandringham (Vic.), with comparison markers for Bayside (C).
English
2021 count
4,575
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
4,575
21.0%
+1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
3,241
% of total
14.8%
Change from 2016
-6.9pp
3,241
14.8%
-6.9pp
Irish
2021 count
1,626
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
1,626
7.4%
+2.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,449
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
1,449
6.6%
-1.9pp
German
2021 count
539
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
539
2.5%
+1.7pp
Italian
2021 count
535
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-
535
2.5%
-
Greek
2021 count
306
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
306
1.4%
-
Chinese
2021 count
300
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
300
1.4%
-
Dutch
2021 count
218
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
218
1.0%
-2.7pp
Indian
2021 count
148
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-
148
0.7%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+4,479
+1.5pp
Australian
+3,134
-6.9pp
Irish
+1,600
+2.1pp
Scottish
+1,407
-1.9pp
German
+535
+1.7pp
Dutch
+200
-2.7pp
New Zealander
+115
-0.5pp
Welsh
+82
-1.2pp
Manx
+11
-0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Sandringham (Vic.). 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 | 4,575 | 21.0% | 19.0% | 96 | 19.5% | 19.0% | +4,479 | +1.5pp |
| Australian | 3,241 | 14.8% | 14.8% | 107 | 21.7% | 14.9% | +3,134 | -6.9pp |
| Irish | 1,626 | 7.4% | 6.6% | 26 | 5.3% | 6.8% | +1,600 | +2.1pp |
| Scottish | 1,449 | 6.6% | 5.7% | 42 | 8.5% | 5.7% | +1,407 | -1.9pp |
| German | 539 | 2.5% | 2.1% | 4 | 0.8% | 2.1% | +535 | +1.7pp |
| Italian | 535 | 2.5% | 2.8% | - | - | 2.6% | - | - |
| Greek | 306 | 1.4% | 2.0% | - | - | 1.9% | - | - |
| Chinese | 300 | 1.4% | 2.4% | - | - | 1.8% | - | - |
| Dutch | 218 | 1.0% | 0.9% | 18 | 3.7% | 0.8% | +200 | -2.7pp |
| Indian | 148 | 0.7% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| Total | 21,834 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 492 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +21,342 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).