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 Brimbank (C) were Vietnamese, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brimbank (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brimbank (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brimbank (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Vietnamese
2021 count
32,861
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
32,861
8.4%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
24,547
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
24,547
6.3%
+0.1pp
English
2021 count
22,557
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
22,557
5.8%
-0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
13,277
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
13,277
3.4%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
12,151
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
12,151
3.1%
-0.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
10,095
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
10,095
2.6%
-0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
7,836
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
7,836
2.0%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
7,465
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
7,465
1.9%
-0.6pp
Greek
2021 count
6,705
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
6,705
1.7%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
5,785
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
5,785
1.5%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+1,760
+0.4pp
Australian
+507
+0.1pp
English
-224
-0.1pp
Chinese
+744
+0.2pp
Italian
-517
-0.2pp
Maltese
-977
-0.2pp
Filipino
+216
0.0pp
Indian
-2,069
-0.6pp
Greek
-377
-0.1pp
Irish
-562
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brimbank (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Vietnamese | 32,861 | 8.4% | 1.2% | 31,101 | 8.0% | 1.2% | +1,760 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 24,547 | 6.3% | 11.7% | 24,040 | 6.2% | 12.0% | +507 | +0.1pp |
| English | 22,557 | 5.8% | 12.8% | 22,781 | 5.9% | 13.3% | -224 | -0.1pp |
| Chinese | 13,277 | 3.4% | 4.2% | 12,533 | 3.2% | 4.0% | +744 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 12,151 | 3.1% | 3.3% | 12,668 | 3.3% | 3.3% | -517 | -0.2pp |
| Maltese | 10,095 | 2.6% | 0.7% | 11,072 | 2.8% | 0.7% | -977 | -0.2pp |
| Filipino | 7,836 | 2.0% | 0.8% | 7,620 | 2.0% | 0.7% | +216 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 7,465 | 1.9% | 2.7% | 9,534 | 2.5% | 2.2% | -2,069 | -0.6pp |
| Greek | 6,705 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 7,082 | 1.8% | 1.8% | -377 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 5,785 | 1.5% | 4.2% | 6,347 | 1.6% | 4.6% | -562 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 389,158 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 388,676 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +482 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).