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 Attwood were Australian, Italian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Attwood - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Attwood in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Hume (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Attwood, with comparison markers for Hume (C).
Australian
2021 count
842
% of total
25.4%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
842
25.4%
+1.5pp
Italian
2021 count
734
% of total
22.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
734
22.2%
+0.8pp
English
2021 count
662
% of total
20.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
662
20.0%
-0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
215
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
215
6.5%
-1.3pp
Greek
2021 count
192
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
192
5.8%
+0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
147
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
147
4.4%
-0.7pp
Turkish
2021 count
139
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
139
4.2%
+0.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
124
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
124
3.7%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
85
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
85
2.6%
+0.1pp
Lebanese
2021 count
81
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
81
2.4%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+24
+1.5pp
Italian
+2
+0.8pp
English
-42
-0.6pp
Irish
-52
-1.3pp
Greek
+17
+0.7pp
Scottish
-28
-0.7pp
Turkish
+2
+0.2pp
Maltese
+23
+0.7pp
German
0
+0.1pp
Lebanese
+18
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Attwood. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Hume (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Hume (C)% | Count | % | Hume (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 842 | 25.4% | 19.2% | 818 | 23.9% | 20.6% | +24 | +1.5pp |
| Italian | 734 | 22.2% | 7.7% | 732 | 21.4% | 8.5% | +2 | +0.8pp |
| English | 662 | 20.0% | 16.9% | 704 | 20.6% | 19.3% | -42 | -0.6pp |
| Irish | 215 | 6.5% | 4.7% | 267 | 7.8% | 6.1% | -52 | -1.3pp |
| Greek | 192 | 5.8% | 2.1% | 175 | 5.1% | 2.4% | +17 | +0.7pp |
| Scottish | 147 | 4.4% | 3.9% | 175 | 5.1% | 4.7% | -28 | -0.7pp |
| Turkish | 139 | 4.2% | 6.8% | 137 | 4.0% | 7.2% | +2 | +0.2pp |
| Maltese | 124 | 3.7% | 2.3% | 101 | 3.0% | 2.5% | +23 | +0.7pp |
| German | 85 | 2.6% | 1.6% | 85 | 2.5% | 2.0% | 0 | +0.1pp |
| Lebanese | 81 | 2.4% | 4.1% | 63 | 1.8% | 4.6% | +18 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).