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 Frankston were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Frankston - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Frankston in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Frankston (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Frankston, with comparison markers for Frankston (C).
English
2021 count
14,766
% of total
19.8%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
14,766
19.8%
-3.9pp
Australian
2021 count
12,491
% of total
16.7%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
12,491
16.7%
-2.6pp
Irish
2021 count
4,207
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
4,207
5.6%
-2.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
3,999
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
3,999
5.4%
-2.5pp
German
2021 count
1,537
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
1,537
2.1%
-0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
1,351
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,351
1.8%
+0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,017
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
1,017
1.4%
-
Dutch
2021 count
853
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
853
1.1%
-0.7pp
Greek
2021 count
720
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
720
1.0%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
524
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-
524
0.7%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+14,570
-3.9pp
Australian
+12,331
-2.6pp
Irish
+4,141
-2.4pp
Scottish
+3,934
-2.5pp
German
+1,514
-0.7pp
Italian
+1,341
+0.6pp
Dutch
+838
-0.7pp
New Zealander
+390
-0.5pp
Welsh
+320
-0.2pp
Maltese
+194
-0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Frankston. 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 | 14,766 | 19.8% | 20.2% | 196 | 23.7% | 20.0% | +14,570 | -3.9pp |
| Australian | 12,491 | 16.7% | 17.7% | 160 | 19.3% | 17.7% | +12,331 | -2.6pp |
| Irish | 4,207 | 5.6% | 5.4% | 66 | 8.0% | 5.7% | +4,141 | -2.4pp |
| Scottish | 3,999 | 5.4% | 5.3% | 65 | 7.9% | 5.1% | +3,934 | -2.5pp |
| German | 1,537 | 2.1% | 2.0% | 23 | 2.8% | 2.0% | +1,514 | -0.7pp |
| Italian | 1,351 | 1.8% | 2.0% | 10 | 1.2% | 1.8% | +1,341 | +0.6pp |
| Chinese | 1,017 | 1.4% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| Dutch | 853 | 1.1% | 1.2% | 15 | 1.8% | 1.2% | +838 | -0.7pp |
| Greek | 720 | 1.0% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 524 | 0.7% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Total | 74,628 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 827 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +73,801 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).