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 Gannawarra (S) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Gannawarra (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Gannawarra (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gannawarra (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Australian
2021 count
4,745
% of total
44.4%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
4,745
44.4%
-1.5pp
English
2021 count
4,626
% of total
43.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
4,626
43.3%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,204
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,204
11.3%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
1,201
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,201
11.2%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
429
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
429
4.0%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
253
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
253
2.4%
+2.1pp
Italian
2021 count
211
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
211
2.0%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
145
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
145
1.4%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
74
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
74
0.7%
+0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
55
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
55
0.5%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-93
-1.5pp
English
+41
-0.2pp
Scottish
+74
+0.6pp
Irish
+40
+0.2pp
German
-17
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+223
+2.1pp
Italian
+7
+0.1pp
Dutch
+13
+0.1pp
Filipino
+22
+0.2pp
Chinese
+29
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Gannawarra (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 4,745 | 44.4% | 39.2% | 4,838 | 45.9% | 40.0% | -93 | -1.5pp |
| English | 4,626 | 43.3% | 40.6% | 4,585 | 43.5% | 40.1% | +41 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,204 | 11.3% | 11.7% | 1,130 | 10.7% | 11.3% | +74 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 1,201 | 11.2% | 12.9% | 1,161 | 11.0% | 13.0% | +40 | +0.2pp |
| German | 429 | 4.0% | 4.6% | 446 | 4.2% | 4.6% | -17 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 253 | 2.4% | 1.9% | 30 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +223 | +2.1pp |
| Italian | 211 | 2.0% | 3.9% | 204 | 1.9% | 3.7% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 145 | 1.4% | 2.3% | 132 | 1.3% | 2.2% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 74 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 52 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +22 | +0.2pp |
| Chinese | 55 | 0.5% | 1.1% | 26 | 0.2% | 1.0% | +29 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).