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 Carrum Downs were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Carrum Downs - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Carrum Downs in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Frankston (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Carrum Downs, with comparison markers for Frankston (C).
English
2021 count
7,960
% of total
36.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
7,960
36.2%
+0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
7,455
% of total
33.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
7,455
33.9%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,929
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,929
8.8%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,867
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
1,867
8.5%
-0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
900
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
900
4.1%
+0.6pp
Indian
2021 count
813
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
813
3.7%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
708
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
708
3.2%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
622
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
622
2.8%
+0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
513
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
513
2.3%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
460
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
460
2.1%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+513
+0.2pp
Australian
+420
-0.1pp
Scottish
+128
+0.1pp
Irish
-30
-0.7pp
Italian
+178
+0.6pp
Indian
-43
-0.4pp
German
+40
0.0pp
Filipino
+155
+0.5pp
Dutch
+33
0.0pp
Chinese
+135
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Carrum Downs. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Frankston (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Frankston (C)% | Count | % | Frankston (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 7,960 | 36.2% | 40.4% | 7,447 | 36.0% | 40.0% | +513 | +0.2pp |
| Australian | 7,455 | 33.9% | 35.5% | 7,035 | 34.0% | 35.4% | +420 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 1,929 | 8.8% | 10.7% | 1,801 | 8.7% | 10.3% | +128 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 1,867 | 8.5% | 10.8% | 1,897 | 9.2% | 11.3% | -30 | -0.7pp |
| Italian | 900 | 4.1% | 4.0% | 722 | 3.5% | 3.6% | +178 | +0.6pp |
| Indian | 813 | 3.7% | 1.8% | 856 | 4.1% | 1.9% | -43 | -0.4pp |
| German | 708 | 3.2% | 3.9% | 668 | 3.2% | 4.0% | +40 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 622 | 2.8% | 1.4% | 467 | 2.3% | 1.1% | +155 | +0.5pp |
| Dutch | 513 | 2.3% | 2.5% | 480 | 2.3% | 2.4% | +33 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 460 | 2.1% | 2.0% | 325 | 1.6% | 1.8% | +135 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).