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 Darebin (C) were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Darebin (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Darebin (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Darebin (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
English
2021 count
37,130
% of total
25.0%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
37,130
25.0%
+2.3pp
Australian
2021 count
32,926
% of total
22.2%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
32,926
22.2%
+1.6pp
Italian
2021 count
20,633
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
20,633
13.9%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
16,531
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
16,531
11.1%
+0.5pp
Greek
2021 count
12,451
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
12,451
8.4%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
12,378
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
12,378
8.3%
+1.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
8,934
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
8,934
6.0%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
4,518
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
4,518
3.0%
+0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
4,276
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
4,276
2.9%
-0.7pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
3,295
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,295
2.2%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,790
+2.3pp
Australian
+2,736
+1.6pp
Italian
+643
+0.3pp
Irish
+906
+0.5pp
Greek
+82
0.0pp
Scottish
+1,962
+1.2pp
Chinese
-406
-0.4pp
German
+598
+0.3pp
Indian
-1,037
-0.7pp
Vietnamese
-255
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Darebin (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 | 37,130 | 25.0% | 25.6% | 33,340 | 22.7% | 26.6% | +3,790 | +2.3pp |
| Australian | 32,926 | 22.2% | 23.4% | 30,190 | 20.6% | 24.0% | +2,736 | +1.6pp |
| Italian | 20,633 | 13.9% | 6.6% | 19,990 | 13.6% | 6.7% | +643 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 16,531 | 11.1% | 8.3% | 15,625 | 10.6% | 9.1% | +906 | +0.5pp |
| Greek | 12,451 | 8.4% | 3.5% | 12,369 | 8.4% | 3.6% | +82 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 12,378 | 8.3% | 7.1% | 10,416 | 7.1% | 7.3% | +1,962 | +1.2pp |
| Chinese | 8,934 | 6.0% | 8.3% | 9,340 | 6.4% | 7.9% | -406 | -0.4pp |
| German | 4,518 | 3.0% | 2.9% | 3,920 | 2.7% | 3.0% | +598 | +0.3pp |
| Indian | 4,276 | 2.9% | 5.3% | 5,313 | 3.6% | 4.4% | -1,037 | -0.7pp |
| Vietnamese | 3,295 | 2.2% | 2.4% | 3,550 | 2.4% | 2.4% | -255 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).