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 Keilor (part) were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Keilor (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Keilor (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Keilor (part), with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
English
2021 count
1,507
% of total
25.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,507
25.5%
+0.5pp
Australian
2021 count
1,450
% of total
24.6%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
1,450
24.6%
-1.8pp
Italian
2021 count
967
% of total
16.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
967
16.4%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
513
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
513
8.7%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
458
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
458
7.8%
-0.2pp
Greek
2021 count
343
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
343
5.8%
+0.8pp
Maltese
2021 count
335
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
335
5.7%
+0.7pp
Croatian
2021 count
269
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
269
4.6%
+0.8pp
German
2021 count
179
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
179
3.0%
-0.4pp
Macedonian
2021 count
145
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
145
2.5%
+0.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+45
+0.5pp
Australian
-95
-1.8pp
Italian
+43
+0.6pp
Irish
-51
-0.9pp
Scottish
-13
-0.2pp
Greek
+48
+0.8pp
Maltese
+43
+0.7pp
Croatian
+44
+0.8pp
German
-18
-0.4pp
Macedonian
+41
+0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Keilor (part). 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 | |
| English | 1,507 | 25.5% | 11.6% | 1,462 | 25.0% | 11.7% | +45 | +0.5pp |
| Australian | 1,450 | 24.6% | 12.6% | 1,545 | 26.4% | 12.4% | -95 | -1.8pp |
| Italian | 967 | 16.4% | 6.2% | 924 | 15.8% | 6.5% | +43 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 513 | 8.7% | 3.0% | 564 | 9.6% | 3.3% | -51 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 458 | 7.8% | 2.5% | 471 | 8.0% | 2.5% | -13 | -0.2pp |
| Greek | 343 | 5.8% | 3.4% | 295 | 5.0% | 3.6% | +48 | +0.8pp |
| Maltese | 335 | 5.7% | 5.2% | 292 | 5.0% | 5.7% | +43 | +0.7pp |
| Croatian | 269 | 4.6% | 2.5% | 225 | 3.8% | 2.5% | +44 | +0.8pp |
| German | 179 | 3.0% | 1.4% | 197 | 3.4% | 1.7% | -18 | -0.4pp |
| Macedonian | 145 | 2.5% | 2.8% | 104 | 1.8% | 2.9% | +41 | +0.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).