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 (RC) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Benalla (RC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Benalla (RC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Benalla (RC), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
6,230
% of total
42.9%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
6,230
42.9%
+1.7pp
Australian
2021 count
5,768
% of total
39.7%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
5,768
39.7%
-2.4pp
Irish
2021 count
2,082
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
2,082
14.3%
+0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,919
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,919
13.2%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
721
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
721
5.0%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
370
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
370
2.5%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
275
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
275
1.9%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
256
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
256
1.8%
+1.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
95
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
95
0.7%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
94
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
94
0.6%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+522
+1.7pp
Australian
-71
-2.4pp
Irish
+181
+0.6pp
Scottish
+160
+0.5pp
German
+46
+0.1pp
Italian
+47
+0.2pp
Dutch
+35
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+244
+1.7pp
Chinese
-8
0.0pp
Indian
+26
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Benalla (RC). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 6,230 | 42.9% | 40.6% | 5,708 | 41.2% | 40.1% | +522 | +1.7pp |
| Australian | 5,768 | 39.7% | 39.2% | 5,839 | 42.1% | 40.0% | -71 | -2.4pp |
| Irish | 2,082 | 14.3% | 12.9% | 1,901 | 13.7% | 13.0% | +181 | +0.6pp |
| Scottish | 1,919 | 13.2% | 11.7% | 1,759 | 12.7% | 11.3% | +160 | +0.5pp |
| German | 721 | 5.0% | 4.6% | 675 | 4.9% | 4.6% | +46 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 370 | 2.5% | 3.9% | 323 | 2.3% | 3.7% | +47 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 275 | 1.9% | 2.3% | 240 | 1.7% | 2.2% | +35 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 256 | 1.8% | 1.9% | 12 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +244 | +1.7pp |
| Chinese | 95 | 0.7% | 1.1% | 103 | 0.7% | 1.0% | -8 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 94 | 0.6% | 1.0% | 68 | 0.5% | 0.7% | +26 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).