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 Indigo (S) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Indigo (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Indigo (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Indigo (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
7,604
% of total
43.8%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
7,604
43.8%
+2.0pp
Australian
2021 count
7,439
% of total
42.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
7,439
42.8%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
2,558
% of total
14.7%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
2,558
14.7%
+0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,174
% of total
12.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
2,174
12.5%
+0.8pp
German
2021 count
1,073
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,073
6.2%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
432
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
432
2.5%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
361
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
361
2.1%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
252
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
252
1.5%
+1.4pp
Welsh
2021 count
112
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
112
0.6%
0.0pp
French
2021 count
95
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
95
0.5%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+941
+2.0pp
Australian
+596
-0.1pp
Irish
+350
+0.9pp
Scottish
+304
+0.8pp
German
+88
0.0pp
Italian
+79
+0.3pp
Dutch
+59
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+239
+1.4pp
Welsh
+13
0.0pp
French
-1
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Indigo (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 7,604 | 43.8% | 40.6% | 6,663 | 41.8% | 40.1% | +941 | +2.0pp |
| Australian | 7,439 | 42.8% | 39.2% | 6,843 | 42.9% | 40.0% | +596 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 2,558 | 14.7% | 12.9% | 2,208 | 13.8% | 13.0% | +350 | +0.9pp |
| Scottish | 2,174 | 12.5% | 11.7% | 1,870 | 11.7% | 11.3% | +304 | +0.8pp |
| German | 1,073 | 6.2% | 4.6% | 985 | 6.2% | 4.6% | +88 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 432 | 2.5% | 3.9% | 353 | 2.2% | 3.7% | +79 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 361 | 2.1% | 2.3% | 302 | 1.9% | 2.2% | +59 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 252 | 1.5% | 1.9% | 13 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +239 | +1.4pp |
| Welsh | 112 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 99 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +13 | 0.0pp |
| French | 95 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 96 | 0.6% | 0.4% | -1 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).