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 Dandenong (C) were Chinese, Vietnamese and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Greater Dandenong (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Greater Dandenong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Dandenong (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Chinese
2021 count
19,377
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
19,377
6.1%
+0.4pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
17,653
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17,653
5.6%
0.0pp
English
2021 count
17,327
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
17,327
5.5%
-0.3pp
Australian
2021 count
16,281
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
16,281
5.1%
0.0pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
11,112
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
11,112
3.5%
+0.6pp
Indian
2021 count
10,529
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
10,529
3.3%
-0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
4,569
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
4,569
1.4%
-0.2pp
Greek
2021 count
4,415
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4,415
1.4%
0.0pp
Hazara
2021 count
3,915
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
3,915
1.2%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
3,802
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,802
1.2%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+2,179
+0.4pp
Vietnamese
+707
0.0pp
English
-158
-0.3pp
Australian
+866
0.0pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
+2,323
+0.6pp
Indian
-1,984
-0.8pp
Italian
-271
-0.2pp
Greek
+24
0.0pp
Hazara
+1,843
+0.5pp
Irish
-451
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Greater Dandenong (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 | |
| Chinese | 19,377 | 6.1% | 4.2% | 17,198 | 5.7% | 4.0% | +2,179 | +0.4pp |
| Vietnamese | 17,653 | 5.6% | 1.2% | 16,946 | 5.6% | 1.2% | +707 | 0.0pp |
| English | 17,327 | 5.5% | 12.8% | 17,485 | 5.8% | 13.3% | -158 | -0.3pp |
| Australian | 16,281 | 5.1% | 11.7% | 15,415 | 5.1% | 12.0% | +866 | 0.0pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 11,112 | 3.5% | 0.2% | 8,789 | 2.9% | 0.2% | +2,323 | +0.6pp |
| Indian | 10,529 | 3.3% | 2.7% | 12,513 | 4.1% | 2.2% | -1,984 | -0.8pp |
| Italian | 4,569 | 1.4% | 3.3% | 4,840 | 1.6% | 3.3% | -271 | -0.2pp |
| Greek | 4,415 | 1.4% | 1.7% | 4,391 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +24 | 0.0pp |
| Hazara | 3,915 | 1.2% | 0.2% | 2,072 | 0.7% | 0.1% | +1,843 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 3,802 | 1.2% | 4.2% | 4,253 | 1.4% | 4.6% | -451 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 316,382 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 304,080 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,302 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).