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
12.5%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
37,130
12.5%
+1.1pp
Australian
2021 count
32,926
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
32,926
11.1%
+0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
20,633
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
20,633
6.9%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
16,531
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
16,531
5.6%
+0.3pp
Greek
2021 count
12,451
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
12,451
4.2%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
12,378
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
12,378
4.2%
+0.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
8,934
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
8,934
3.0%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
4,518
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
4,518
1.5%
+0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
4,276
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
4,276
1.4%
-0.4pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
3,295
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
3,295
1.1%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,790
+1.1pp
Australian
+2,736
+0.8pp
Italian
+643
+0.1pp
Irish
+906
+0.3pp
Greek
+82
0.0pp
Scottish
+1,962
+0.7pp
Chinese
-406
-0.2pp
German
+598
+0.2pp
Indian
-1,037
-0.4pp
Vietnamese
-255
-0.1pp
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 | 12.5% | 12.8% | 33,340 | 11.4% | 13.3% | +3,790 | +1.1pp |
| Australian | 32,926 | 11.1% | 11.7% | 30,190 | 10.3% | 12.0% | +2,736 | +0.8pp |
| Italian | 20,633 | 6.9% | 3.3% | 19,990 | 6.8% | 3.3% | +643 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 16,531 | 5.6% | 4.2% | 15,625 | 5.3% | 4.6% | +906 | +0.3pp |
| Greek | 12,451 | 4.2% | 1.7% | 12,369 | 4.2% | 1.8% | +82 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 12,378 | 4.2% | 3.6% | 10,416 | 3.5% | 3.7% | +1,962 | +0.7pp |
| Chinese | 8,934 | 3.0% | 4.2% | 9,340 | 3.2% | 4.0% | -406 | -0.2pp |
| German | 4,518 | 1.5% | 1.4% | 3,920 | 1.3% | 1.5% | +598 | +0.2pp |
| Indian | 4,276 | 1.4% | 2.7% | 5,313 | 1.8% | 2.2% | -1,037 | -0.4pp |
| Vietnamese | 3,295 | 1.1% | 1.2% | 3,550 | 1.2% | 1.2% | -255 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 297,131 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 293,450 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,681 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).