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
22.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
4,745
22.2%
-0.7pp
English
2021 count
4,626
% of total
21.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4,626
21.7%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,204
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,204
5.6%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
1,201
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,201
5.6%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
429
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
429
2.0%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
253
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
253
1.2%
+1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
211
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
211
1.0%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
145
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
145
0.7%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
74
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
74
0.3%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
55
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
55
0.3%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-93
-0.7pp
English
+41
0.0pp
Scottish
+74
+0.2pp
Irish
+40
+0.1pp
German
-17
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+223
+1.1pp
Italian
+7
0.0pp
Dutch
+13
+0.1pp
Filipino
+22
+0.1pp
Chinese
+29
+0.2pp
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 | 22.2% | 19.6% | 4,838 | 22.9% | 20.0% | -93 | -0.7pp |
| English | 4,626 | 21.7% | 20.3% | 4,585 | 21.7% | 20.0% | +41 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,204 | 5.6% | 5.8% | 1,130 | 5.4% | 5.7% | +74 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 1,201 | 5.6% | 6.4% | 1,161 | 5.5% | 6.5% | +40 | +0.1pp |
| German | 429 | 2.0% | 2.3% | 446 | 2.1% | 2.3% | -17 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 253 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 30 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +223 | +1.1pp |
| Italian | 211 | 1.0% | 1.9% | 204 | 1.0% | 1.8% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 145 | 0.7% | 1.1% | 132 | 0.6% | 1.1% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 74 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 52 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +22 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 55 | 0.3% | 0.6% | 26 | 0.1% | 0.5% | +29 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 21,358 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 21,096 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +262 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).