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 Kealba were Australian, English and Vietnamese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Kealba - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Kealba in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Kealba, with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
Australian
2021 count
606
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
606
9.5%
-1.9pp
English
2021 count
498
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-20.8pp
498
7.8%
-20.8pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
437
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-
437
6.8%
-
Italian
2021 count
347
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-
347
5.4%
-
Maltese
2021 count
166
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-
166
2.6%
-
Irish
2021 count
156
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-
156
2.4%
-
Chinese
2021 count
153
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-
153
2.4%
-
Greek
2021 count
131
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-
131
2.0%
-
Scottish
2021 count
125
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-6.6pp
125
2.0%
-6.6pp
Croatian
2021 count
114
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
114
1.8%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+602
-1.9pp
English
+488
-20.8pp
Scottish
+122
-6.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Kealba. 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 | |
| Australian | 606 | 9.5% | 6.3% | 4 | 11.4% | 6.2% | +602 | -1.9pp |
| English | 498 | 7.8% | 5.8% | 10 | 28.6% | 5.9% | +488 | -20.8pp |
| Vietnamese | 437 | 6.8% | 8.4% | - | - | 8.0% | - | - |
| Italian | 347 | 5.4% | 3.1% | - | - | 3.3% | - | - |
| Maltese | 166 | 2.6% | 2.6% | - | - | 2.8% | - | - |
| Irish | 156 | 2.4% | 1.5% | - | - | 1.6% | - | - |
| Chinese | 153 | 2.4% | 3.4% | - | - | 3.2% | - | - |
| Greek | 131 | 2.0% | 1.7% | - | - | 1.8% | - | - |
| Scottish | 125 | 2.0% | 1.2% | 3 | 8.6% | 1.3% | +122 | -6.6pp |
| Croatian | 114 | 1.8% | 1.2% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| Total | 6,402 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 35 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,367 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).