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 Casey (C) were English, Australian and Indian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Casey (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Casey (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Casey (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
English
2021 count
79,200
% of total
21.7%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
79,200
21.7%
-3.3pp
Australian
2021 count
78,947
% of total
21.6%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
78,947
21.6%
-2.2pp
Indian
2021 count
34,061
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
34,061
9.3%
+1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
18,447
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
18,447
5.1%
-0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
18,059
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
18,059
4.9%
-1.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
15,977
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
15,977
4.4%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
12,458
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
12,458
3.4%
-0.3pp
Afghan
2021 count
11,987
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
11,987
3.3%
0.0pp
Hazara
2021 count
11,901
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
11,901
3.3%
+2.3pp
Sri Lankan
2021 count
10,015
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
10,015
2.7%
-1.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+4,470
-3.3pp
Australian
+7,669
-2.2pp
Indian
+11,172
+1.7pp
Scottish
+536
-0.9pp
Irish
-1,088
-1.5pp
Chinese
+3,730
+0.3pp
Italian
+1,245
-0.3pp
Afghan
+2,176
0.0pp
Hazara
+8,982
+2.3pp
Sri Lankan
-1,590
-1.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Casey (C). 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 | 79,200 | 21.7% | 25.6% | 74,730 | 25.0% | 26.6% | +4,470 | -3.3pp |
| Australian | 78,947 | 21.6% | 23.4% | 71,278 | 23.8% | 24.0% | +7,669 | -2.2pp |
| Indian | 34,061 | 9.3% | 5.3% | 22,889 | 7.6% | 4.4% | +11,172 | +1.7pp |
| Scottish | 18,447 | 5.1% | 7.1% | 17,911 | 6.0% | 7.3% | +536 | -0.9pp |
| Irish | 18,059 | 4.9% | 8.3% | 19,147 | 6.4% | 9.1% | -1,088 | -1.5pp |
| Chinese | 15,977 | 4.4% | 8.3% | 12,247 | 4.1% | 7.9% | +3,730 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 12,458 | 3.4% | 6.6% | 11,213 | 3.7% | 6.7% | +1,245 | -0.3pp |
| Afghan | 11,987 | 3.3% | 0.4% | 9,811 | 3.3% | 0.4% | +2,176 | 0.0pp |
| Hazara | 11,901 | 3.3% | 0.4% | 2,919 | 1.0% | 0.1% | +8,982 | +2.3pp |
| Sri Lankan | 10,015 | 2.7% | 1.0% | 11,605 | 3.9% | 1.3% | -1,590 | -1.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).