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 Greater Bendigo (C) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Greater Bendigo (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Greater Bendigo (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Bendigo (C), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
51,684
% of total
21.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
51,684
21.3%
+0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
49,540
% of total
20.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
49,540
20.4%
-0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
16,643
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
16,643
6.9%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
14,336
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
14,336
5.9%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
5,340
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
5,340
2.2%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
3,778
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,778
1.6%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
2,659
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
2,659
1.1%
+1.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
1,855
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,855
0.8%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,662
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,662
0.7%
+0.1pp
Karen
2021 count
1,540
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,540
0.6%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+5,087
+0.2pp
Australian
+3,230
-0.6pp
Irish
+940
-0.2pp
Scottish
+1,992
+0.3pp
German
+403
0.0pp
Italian
+715
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+2,433
+1.0pp
Dutch
+303
+0.1pp
Chinese
+285
+0.1pp
Karen
+761
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Greater Bendigo (C). 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 | |
| English | 51,684 | 21.3% | 20.3% | 46,597 | 21.1% | 20.0% | +5,087 | +0.2pp |
| Australian | 49,540 | 20.4% | 19.6% | 46,310 | 21.0% | 20.0% | +3,230 | -0.6pp |
| Irish | 16,643 | 6.9% | 6.4% | 15,703 | 7.1% | 6.5% | +940 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 14,336 | 5.9% | 5.8% | 12,344 | 5.6% | 5.7% | +1,992 | +0.3pp |
| German | 5,340 | 2.2% | 2.3% | 4,937 | 2.2% | 2.3% | +403 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 3,778 | 1.6% | 1.9% | 3,063 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +715 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 2,659 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 226 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +2,433 | +1.0pp |
| Dutch | 1,855 | 0.8% | 1.1% | 1,552 | 0.7% | 1.1% | +303 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 1,662 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 1,377 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +285 | +0.1pp |
| Karen | 1,540 | 0.6% | 0.1% | 779 | 0.4% | 0.1% | +761 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 242,887 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 220,969 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +21,918 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).