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 Meadow Heights were Turkish, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Meadow Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Meadow Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Hume (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Meadow Heights, with comparison markers for Hume (C).
Turkish
2021 count
3,253
% of total
21.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
3,253
21.8%
-0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
1,815
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,815
12.2%
+1.1pp
English
2021 count
1,394
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,394
9.4%
-0.8pp
Lebanese
2021 count
1,337
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,337
9.0%
-0.2pp
Iraqi
2021 count
661
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
661
4.4%
-0.7pp
Assyrian
2021 count
624
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
624
4.2%
-0.3pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
562
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
562
3.8%
-0.6pp
Arab, nfd
2021 count
493
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
493
3.3%
+1.0pp
Pakistani
2021 count
414
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
414
2.8%
+1.3pp
Chaldean
2021 count
386
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
386
2.6%
-1.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Turkish
-84
-0.7pp
Australian
+174
+1.1pp
English
-120
-0.8pp
Lebanese
-27
-0.2pp
Iraqi
-100
-0.7pp
Assyrian
-51
-0.3pp
Vietnamese
-90
-0.6pp
Arab, nfd
+148
+1.0pp
Pakistani
+198
+1.3pp
Chaldean
-271
-1.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Meadow Heights. 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 | |
| Turkish | 3,253 | 21.8% | 6.8% | 3,337 | 22.5% | 7.2% | -84 | -0.7pp |
| Australian | 1,815 | 12.2% | 19.2% | 1,641 | 11.1% | 20.6% | +174 | +1.1pp |
| English | 1,394 | 9.4% | 16.9% | 1,514 | 10.2% | 19.3% | -120 | -0.8pp |
| Lebanese | 1,337 | 9.0% | 4.1% | 1,364 | 9.2% | 4.6% | -27 | -0.2pp |
| Iraqi | 661 | 4.4% | 3.7% | 761 | 5.1% | 3.0% | -100 | -0.7pp |
| Assyrian | 624 | 4.2% | 3.1% | 675 | 4.5% | 2.5% | -51 | -0.3pp |
| Vietnamese | 562 | 3.8% | 0.9% | 652 | 4.4% | 1.0% | -90 | -0.6pp |
| Arab, nfd | 493 | 3.3% | 1.6% | 345 | 2.3% | 1.0% | +148 | +1.0pp |
| Pakistani | 414 | 2.8% | 1.9% | 216 | 1.5% | 1.2% | +198 | +1.3pp |
| Chaldean | 386 | 2.6% | 2.6% | 657 | 4.4% | 2.7% | -271 | -1.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).