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 Sunshine North were Vietnamese, Chinese and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Sunshine North - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Sunshine North in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sunshine North, with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
Vietnamese
2021 count
4,111
% of total
34.1%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
4,111
34.1%
-1.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,456
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
1,456
12.1%
+1.3pp
Australian
2021 count
1,204
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,204
10.0%
+1.0pp
English
2021 count
1,057
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,057
8.8%
+0.6pp
Maltese
2021 count
692
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
692
5.7%
-0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
467
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
467
3.9%
-0.6pp
Filipino
2021 count
312
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
312
2.6%
+0.7pp
Indian
2021 count
260
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
260
2.2%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
248
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
248
2.1%
+0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
233
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
233
1.9%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
-57
-1.5pp
Chinese
+187
+1.3pp
Australian
+146
+1.0pp
English
+98
+0.6pp
Maltese
-61
-0.7pp
Italian
-55
-0.6pp
Filipino
+84
+0.7pp
Indian
+10
+0.1pp
Irish
+16
+0.1pp
Scottish
+29
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Sunshine North. 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 | 4,111 | 34.1% | 16.9% | 4,168 | 35.6% | 16.0% | -57 | -1.5pp |
| Chinese | 1,456 | 12.1% | 6.8% | 1,269 | 10.8% | 6.4% | +187 | +1.3pp |
| Australian | 1,204 | 10.0% | 12.6% | 1,058 | 9.0% | 12.4% | +146 | +1.0pp |
| English | 1,057 | 8.8% | 11.6% | 959 | 8.2% | 11.7% | +98 | +0.6pp |
| Maltese | 692 | 5.7% | 5.2% | 753 | 6.4% | 5.7% | -61 | -0.7pp |
| Italian | 467 | 3.9% | 6.2% | 522 | 4.5% | 6.5% | -55 | -0.6pp |
| Filipino | 312 | 2.6% | 4.0% | 228 | 1.9% | 3.9% | +84 | +0.7pp |
| Indian | 260 | 2.2% | 3.8% | 250 | 2.1% | 4.9% | +10 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 248 | 2.1% | 3.0% | 232 | 2.0% | 3.3% | +16 | +0.1pp |
| Scottish | 233 | 1.9% | 2.5% | 204 | 1.7% | 2.5% | +29 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).