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 Cardinia (S) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cardinia (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cardinia (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cardinia (S), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
English
2021 count
41,979
% of total
17.8%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
41,979
17.8%
-1.8pp
Australian
2021 count
41,707
% of total
17.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
41,707
17.6%
-1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
10,299
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
10,299
4.4%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
9,998
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
9,998
4.2%
-0.5pp
Indian
2021 count
5,029
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
5,029
2.1%
+1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
4,688
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4,688
2.0%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
4,182
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
4,182
1.8%
-0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
3,997
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,997
1.7%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,920
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,920
0.8%
+0.2pp
Punjabi
2021 count
1,871
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,871
0.8%
+0.7pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+5,161
-1.8pp
Australian
+6,127
-1.3pp
Irish
+833
-0.6pp
Scottish
+1,205
-0.5pp
Indian
+2,918
+1.0pp
Italian
+862
0.0pp
German
+371
-0.2pp
Dutch
+502
-0.2pp
Chinese
+855
+0.2pp
Punjabi
+1,629
+0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cardinia (S). 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 | |
| English | 41,979 | 17.8% | 12.8% | 36,818 | 19.6% | 13.3% | +5,161 | -1.8pp |
| Australian | 41,707 | 17.6% | 11.7% | 35,580 | 18.9% | 12.0% | +6,127 | -1.3pp |
| Irish | 10,299 | 4.4% | 4.2% | 9,466 | 5.0% | 4.6% | +833 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 9,998 | 4.2% | 3.6% | 8,793 | 4.7% | 3.7% | +1,205 | -0.5pp |
| Indian | 5,029 | 2.1% | 2.7% | 2,111 | 1.1% | 2.2% | +2,918 | +1.0pp |
| Italian | 4,688 | 2.0% | 3.3% | 3,826 | 2.0% | 3.3% | +862 | 0.0pp |
| German | 4,182 | 1.8% | 1.4% | 3,811 | 2.0% | 1.5% | +371 | -0.2pp |
| Dutch | 3,997 | 1.7% | 0.7% | 3,495 | 1.9% | 0.7% | +502 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 1,920 | 0.8% | 4.2% | 1,065 | 0.6% | 4.0% | +855 | +0.2pp |
| Punjabi | 1,871 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 242 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +1,629 | +0.7pp |
| Total | 236,374 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 188,265 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +48,109 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).