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 Stanley (Vic.) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Stanley (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Stanley (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Indigo (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Stanley (Vic.), with comparison markers for Indigo (S).
English
2021 count
162
% of total
43.7%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
162
43.7%
+2.5pp
Australian
2021 count
160
% of total
43.1%
Change from 2016
+7.9pp
160
43.1%
+7.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
70
% of total
18.9%
Change from 2016
+7.1pp
70
18.9%
+7.1pp
Irish
2021 count
45
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
45
12.1%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
16
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
16
4.3%
+2.7pp
German
2021 count
13
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
13
3.5%
-2.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
11
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
11
3.0%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+12
+2.5pp
Australian
+32
+7.9pp
Scottish
+27
+7.1pp
Irish
+3
+0.6pp
Italian
+10
+2.7pp
German
-8
-2.3pp
Dutch
-3
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Stanley (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 | 162 | 43.7% | 43.8% | 150 | 41.2% | 41.8% | +12 | +2.5pp |
| Australian | 160 | 43.1% | 42.8% | 128 | 35.2% | 42.9% | +32 | +7.9pp |
| Scottish | 70 | 18.9% | 12.5% | 43 | 11.8% | 11.7% | +27 | +7.1pp |
| Irish | 45 | 12.1% | 14.7% | 42 | 11.5% | 13.8% | +3 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 16 | 4.3% | 2.5% | 6 | 1.6% | 2.2% | +10 | +2.7pp |
| German | 13 | 3.5% | 6.2% | 21 | 5.8% | 6.2% | -8 | -2.3pp |
| Dutch | 11 | 3.0% | 2.1% | 14 | 3.8% | 1.9% | -3 | -0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).