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 Camperdown (Vic.) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Camperdown (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Camperdown (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Corangamite (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Camperdown (Vic.), with comparison markers for Corangamite (S).
Australian
2021 count
1,505
% of total
44.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,505
44.9%
+0.6pp
English
2021 count
1,405
% of total
41.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,405
41.9%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
476
% of total
14.2%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
476
14.2%
-1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
415
% of total
12.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
415
12.4%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
90
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
90
2.7%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
56
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
56
1.7%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
43
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
43
1.3%
+0.1pp
Inadequately described
2021 count
34
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
34
1.0%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
28
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
28
0.8%
-
Filipino
2021 count
25
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
25
0.7%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+11
+0.6pp
English
-21
-0.4pp
Irish
-42
-1.2pp
Scottish
+12
+0.4pp
German
+1
+0.1pp
Dutch
+1
+0.1pp
Italian
+3
+0.1pp
Filipino
+10
+0.3pp
Spanish
+14
+0.5pp
New Zealander
+3
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Camperdown (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Corangamite (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Corangamite (S)% | Count | % | Corangamite (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 1,505 | 44.9% | 44.3% | 1,494 | 44.3% | 44.3% | +11 | +0.6pp |
| English | 1,405 | 41.9% | 40.1% | 1,426 | 42.3% | 39.6% | -21 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 476 | 14.2% | 14.9% | 518 | 15.4% | 14.9% | -42 | -1.2pp |
| Scottish | 415 | 12.4% | 12.9% | 403 | 12.0% | 12.4% | +12 | +0.4pp |
| German | 90 | 2.7% | 3.0% | 89 | 2.6% | 2.9% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 56 | 1.7% | 2.5% | 55 | 1.6% | 2.4% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 43 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 40 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Inadequately described | 34 | 1.0% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 28 | 0.8% | 1.1% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Filipino | 25 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 15 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +10 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).