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 Hume (C) were Australian, English and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Hume (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Hume (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hume (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Australian
2021 count
46,783
% of total
19.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
46,783
19.2%
-1.4pp
English
2021 count
41,240
% of total
16.9%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
41,240
16.9%
-2.4pp
Italian
2021 count
18,661
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
18,661
7.7%
-0.8pp
Turkish
2021 count
16,550
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
16,550
6.8%
-0.4pp
Indian
2021 count
16,083
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
16,083
6.6%
+1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
11,566
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
11,566
4.7%
-1.4pp
Lebanese
2021 count
9,987
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
9,987
4.1%
-0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
9,403
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
9,403
3.9%
-0.8pp
Iraqi
2021 count
9,004
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
9,004
3.7%
+0.7pp
Assyrian
2021 count
7,636
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
7,636
3.1%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+6,184
-1.4pp
English
+3,143
-2.4pp
Italian
+1,879
-0.8pp
Turkish
+2,296
-0.4pp
Indian
+5,713
+1.3pp
Irish
-486
-1.4pp
Lebanese
+858
-0.5pp
Scottish
+197
-0.8pp
Iraqi
+3,043
+0.7pp
Assyrian
+2,736
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Hume (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 | |
| Australian | 46,783 | 19.2% | 23.4% | 40,599 | 20.6% | 24.0% | +6,184 | -1.4pp |
| English | 41,240 | 16.9% | 25.6% | 38,097 | 19.3% | 26.6% | +3,143 | -2.4pp |
| Italian | 18,661 | 7.7% | 6.6% | 16,782 | 8.5% | 6.7% | +1,879 | -0.8pp |
| Turkish | 16,550 | 6.8% | 0.8% | 14,254 | 7.2% | 0.8% | +2,296 | -0.4pp |
| Indian | 16,083 | 6.6% | 5.3% | 10,370 | 5.3% | 4.4% | +5,713 | +1.3pp |
| Irish | 11,566 | 4.7% | 8.3% | 12,052 | 6.1% | 9.1% | -486 | -1.4pp |
| Lebanese | 9,987 | 4.1% | 1.0% | 9,129 | 4.6% | 1.0% | +858 | -0.5pp |
| Scottish | 9,403 | 3.9% | 7.1% | 9,206 | 4.7% | 7.3% | +197 | -0.8pp |
| Iraqi | 9,004 | 3.7% | 0.3% | 5,961 | 3.0% | 0.3% | +3,043 | +0.7pp |
| Assyrian | 7,636 | 3.1% | 0.2% | 4,900 | 2.5% | 0.2% | +2,736 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).