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 Cairnlea were Vietnamese, Chinese and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cairnlea - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cairnlea in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairnlea, with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
Vietnamese
2021 count
3,009
% of total
30.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
3,009
30.0%
+1.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,244
% of total
12.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,244
12.4%
0.0pp
Australian
2021 count
929
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
929
9.3%
+1.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
696
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
696
6.9%
-0.9pp
English
2021 count
644
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
644
6.4%
-0.8pp
Maltese
2021 count
423
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
423
4.2%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
341
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
341
3.4%
-0.5pp
Macedonian
2021 count
324
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
324
3.2%
-0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
319
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
319
3.2%
-0.7pp
Greek
2021 count
208
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
208
2.1%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+251
+1.4pp
Chinese
+48
0.0pp
Australian
+151
+1.2pp
Filipino
-60
-0.9pp
English
-50
-0.8pp
Maltese
-16
-0.3pp
Italian
-37
-0.5pp
Macedonian
-3
-0.2pp
Indian
-61
-0.7pp
Greek
+23
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cairnlea. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brimbank (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Vietnamese | 3,009 | 30.0% | 16.9% | 2,758 | 28.6% | 16.0% | +251 | +1.4pp |
| Chinese | 1,244 | 12.4% | 6.8% | 1,196 | 12.4% | 6.4% | +48 | 0.0pp |
| Australian | 929 | 9.3% | 12.6% | 778 | 8.1% | 12.4% | +151 | +1.2pp |
| Filipino | 696 | 6.9% | 4.0% | 756 | 7.8% | 3.9% | -60 | -0.9pp |
| English | 644 | 6.4% | 11.6% | 694 | 7.2% | 11.7% | -50 | -0.8pp |
| Maltese | 423 | 4.2% | 5.2% | 439 | 4.5% | 5.7% | -16 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 341 | 3.4% | 6.2% | 378 | 3.9% | 6.5% | -37 | -0.5pp |
| Macedonian | 324 | 3.2% | 2.8% | 327 | 3.4% | 2.9% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| Indian | 319 | 3.2% | 3.8% | 380 | 3.9% | 4.9% | -61 | -0.7pp |
| Greek | 208 | 2.1% | 3.4% | 185 | 1.9% | 3.6% | +23 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).