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 Greenvale (Vic.) were Italian, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Greenvale (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Greenvale (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Hume (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greenvale (Vic.), with comparison markers for Hume (C).
Italian
2021 count
4,402
% of total
20.7%
Change from 2016
-4.1pp
4,402
20.7%
-4.1pp
Australian
2021 count
3,666
% of total
17.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
3,666
17.2%
-0.1pp
English
2021 count
2,747
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
2,747
12.9%
-1.5pp
Turkish
2021 count
2,153
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
2,153
10.1%
+2.7pp
Lebanese
2021 count
1,019
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,019
4.8%
+0.5pp
Maltese
2021 count
884
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
884
4.2%
-0.6pp
Greek
2021 count
825
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
825
3.9%
-0.9pp
Indian
2021 count
769
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
769
3.6%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
707
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
707
3.3%
-1.1pp
Iraqi
2021 count
565
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
565
2.7%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Italian
+563
-4.1pp
Australian
+987
-0.1pp
English
+521
-1.5pp
Turkish
+1,013
+2.7pp
Lebanese
+354
+0.5pp
Maltese
+148
-0.6pp
Greek
+85
-0.9pp
Indian
+303
+0.6pp
Irish
+21
-1.1pp
Iraqi
+273
+0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Greenvale (Vic.). 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 | |
| Italian | 4,402 | 20.7% | 7.7% | 3,839 | 24.8% | 8.5% | +563 | -4.1pp |
| Australian | 3,666 | 17.2% | 19.2% | 2,679 | 17.3% | 20.6% | +987 | -0.1pp |
| English | 2,747 | 12.9% | 16.9% | 2,226 | 14.4% | 19.3% | +521 | -1.5pp |
| Turkish | 2,153 | 10.1% | 6.8% | 1,140 | 7.4% | 7.2% | +1,013 | +2.7pp |
| Lebanese | 1,019 | 4.8% | 4.1% | 665 | 4.3% | 4.6% | +354 | +0.5pp |
| Maltese | 884 | 4.2% | 2.3% | 736 | 4.8% | 2.5% | +148 | -0.6pp |
| Greek | 825 | 3.9% | 2.1% | 740 | 4.8% | 2.4% | +85 | -0.9pp |
| Indian | 769 | 3.6% | 6.6% | 466 | 3.0% | 5.3% | +303 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 707 | 3.3% | 4.7% | 686 | 4.4% | 6.1% | +21 | -1.1pp |
| Iraqi | 565 | 2.7% | 3.7% | 292 | 1.9% | 3.0% | +273 | +0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).