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 Glen Eira (C) were English, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Glen Eira (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Glen Eira (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Glen Eira (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
English
2021 count
35,173
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
35,173
11.8%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
34,787
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
34,787
11.7%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
13,632
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
13,632
4.6%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
13,344
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
13,344
4.5%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
10,169
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
10,169
3.4%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
8,237
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
8,237
2.8%
+0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
7,164
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
7,164
2.4%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
7,046
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
7,046
2.4%
+0.2pp
Polish
2021 count
6,226
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
6,226
2.1%
-0.1pp
Jewish
2021 count
5,880
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
5,880
2.0%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,674
-0.1pp
Australian
+1,701
0.0pp
Chinese
+1,445
+0.3pp
Irish
+87
-0.2pp
Scottish
+697
0.0pp
Greek
+575
+0.1pp
Indian
+93
-0.1pp
Italian
+838
+0.2pp
Polish
-86
-0.1pp
Jewish
+1,184
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Glen Eira (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 | 35,173 | 11.8% | 12.8% | 33,499 | 11.9% | 13.3% | +1,674 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 34,787 | 11.7% | 11.7% | 33,086 | 11.7% | 12.0% | +1,701 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 13,632 | 4.6% | 4.2% | 12,187 | 4.3% | 4.0% | +1,445 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 13,344 | 4.5% | 4.2% | 13,257 | 4.7% | 4.6% | +87 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 10,169 | 3.4% | 3.6% | 9,472 | 3.4% | 3.7% | +697 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 8,237 | 2.8% | 1.7% | 7,662 | 2.7% | 1.8% | +575 | +0.1pp |
| Indian | 7,164 | 2.4% | 2.7% | 7,071 | 2.5% | 2.2% | +93 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 7,046 | 2.4% | 3.3% | 6,208 | 2.2% | 3.3% | +838 | +0.2pp |
| Polish | 6,226 | 2.1% | 0.5% | 6,312 | 2.2% | 0.5% | -86 | -0.1pp |
| Jewish | 5,880 | 2.0% | 0.1% | 4,696 | 1.7% | 0.1% | +1,184 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 297,801 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 281,716 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +16,085 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).