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 Kiewa were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Kiewa - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Kiewa in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Indigo (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Kiewa, with comparison markers for Indigo (S).
Australian
2021 count
246
% of total
25.6%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
246
25.6%
+4.6pp
English
2021 count
185
% of total
19.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
185
19.3%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
56
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
56
5.8%
-1.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
46
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
46
4.8%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
28
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
28
2.9%
+0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
15
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
15
1.6%
+0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
10
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
10
1.0%
-1.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-3,083
+4.6pp
English
-2,816
+0.4pp
Irish
-1,098
-1.5pp
Scottish
-745
-0.2pp
German
-282
+0.9pp
Dutch
-120
+0.7pp
Italian
-381
-1.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Kiewa. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Indigo (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Indigo (S)% | Count | % | Indigo (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 246 | 25.6% | 21.4% | 3,329 | 21.0% | 21.5% | -3,083 | +4.6pp |
| English | 185 | 19.3% | 21.9% | 3,001 | 18.9% | 20.9% | -2,816 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 56 | 5.8% | 7.4% | 1,154 | 7.3% | 6.9% | -1,098 | -1.5pp |
| Scottish | 46 | 4.8% | 6.3% | 791 | 5.0% | 5.9% | -745 | -0.2pp |
| German | 28 | 2.9% | 3.1% | 310 | 2.0% | 3.1% | -282 | +0.9pp |
| Dutch | 15 | 1.6% | 1.0% | 135 | 0.9% | 0.9% | -120 | +0.7pp |
| Italian | 10 | 1.0% | 1.2% | 391 | 2.5% | 1.1% | -381 | -1.5pp |
| Total | 960 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 15,862 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -14,902 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).