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 Sandy Creek (Vic.) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Sandy Creek (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Sandy Creek (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Indigo (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sandy Creek (Vic.), with comparison markers for Indigo (S).
English
2021 count
83
% of total
41.5%
Change from 2016
+7.4pp
83
41.5%
+7.4pp
Australian
2021 count
77
% of total
38.5%
Change from 2016
-10.1pp
77
38.5%
-10.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
30
% of total
15.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
30
15.0%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
26
% of total
13.0%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
26
13.0%
-3.2pp
German
2021 count
18
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
18
9.0%
-5.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+22
+7.4pp
Australian
-10
-10.1pp
Scottish
+3
-0.1pp
Irish
-3
-3.2pp
German
-7
-5.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Sandy Creek (Vic.). 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 | |
| English | 83 | 41.5% | 43.8% | 61 | 34.1% | 41.8% | +22 | +7.4pp |
| Australian | 77 | 38.5% | 42.8% | 87 | 48.6% | 42.9% | -10 | -10.1pp |
| Scottish | 30 | 15.0% | 12.5% | 27 | 15.1% | 11.7% | +3 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 26 | 13.0% | 14.7% | 29 | 16.2% | 13.8% | -3 | -3.2pp |
| German | 18 | 9.0% | 6.2% | 25 | 14.0% | 6.2% | -7 | -5.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).