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 Benalla were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Benalla - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Benalla in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Benalla (RC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Benalla, with comparison markers for Benalla (RC).
English
2021 count
4,625
% of total
42.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
4,625
42.7%
+1.1pp
Australian
2021 count
4,281
% of total
39.6%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
4,281
39.6%
-2.0pp
Irish
2021 count
1,517
% of total
14.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,517
14.0%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,386
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,386
12.8%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
524
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
524
4.8%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
271
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
271
2.5%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
197
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
197
1.8%
+1.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
189
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
189
1.7%
+0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
90
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
90
0.8%
+0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
79
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
79
0.7%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+326
+1.1pp
Australian
-21
-2.0pp
Irish
+94
+0.2pp
Scottish
+96
+0.3pp
German
+12
-0.2pp
Italian
+20
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+189
+1.7pp
Dutch
+23
+0.1pp
Indian
+25
+0.2pp
Chinese
-9
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Benalla. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Benalla (RC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Benalla (RC)% | Count | % | Benalla (RC)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 4,625 | 42.7% | 42.9% | 4,299 | 41.6% | 41.2% | +326 | +1.1pp |
| Australian | 4,281 | 39.6% | 39.7% | 4,302 | 41.6% | 42.1% | -21 | -2.0pp |
| Irish | 1,517 | 14.0% | 14.3% | 1,423 | 13.8% | 13.7% | +94 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,386 | 12.8% | 13.2% | 1,290 | 12.5% | 12.7% | +96 | +0.3pp |
| German | 524 | 4.8% | 5.0% | 512 | 5.0% | 4.9% | +12 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 271 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 251 | 2.4% | 2.3% | +20 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 197 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 8 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +189 | +1.7pp |
| Dutch | 189 | 1.7% | 1.9% | 166 | 1.6% | 1.7% | +23 | +0.1pp |
| Indian | 90 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 65 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +25 | +0.2pp |
| Chinese | 79 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 88 | 0.9% | 0.7% | -9 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).