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 Buloke (S) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Buloke (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Buloke (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Buloke (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Australian
2021 count
2,554
% of total
41.3%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
2,554
41.3%
-0.9pp
English
2021 count
2,418
% of total
39.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
2,418
39.1%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
996
% of total
16.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
996
16.1%
-0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
820
% of total
13.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
820
13.3%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
185
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
185
3.0%
-0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
86
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
86
1.4%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
74
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
74
1.2%
+1.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
68
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
68
1.1%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
42
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
42
0.7%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
36
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
36
0.6%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-65
-0.9pp
English
+20
+0.4pp
Irish
-28
-0.4pp
Scottish
+13
+0.3pp
German
-42
-0.7pp
Italian
+19
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+60
+1.0pp
Dutch
-2
0.0pp
Filipino
+6
+0.1pp
Chinese
+11
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Buloke (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 2,554 | 41.3% | 39.2% | 2,619 | 42.2% | 40.0% | -65 | -0.9pp |
| English | 2,418 | 39.1% | 40.6% | 2,398 | 38.7% | 40.1% | +20 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 996 | 16.1% | 12.9% | 1,024 | 16.5% | 13.0% | -28 | -0.4pp |
| Scottish | 820 | 13.3% | 11.7% | 807 | 13.0% | 11.3% | +13 | +0.3pp |
| German | 185 | 3.0% | 4.6% | 227 | 3.7% | 4.6% | -42 | -0.7pp |
| Italian | 86 | 1.4% | 3.9% | 67 | 1.1% | 3.7% | +19 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 74 | 1.2% | 1.9% | 14 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +60 | +1.0pp |
| Dutch | 68 | 1.1% | 2.3% | 70 | 1.1% | 2.2% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 42 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 36 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 36 | 0.6% | 1.1% | 25 | 0.4% | 1.0% | +11 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).