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 Bayswater (Vic.) were English, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bayswater (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bayswater (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bayswater (Vic.), with comparison markers for Knox (C).
English
2021 count
3,669
% of total
29.9%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
3,669
29.9%
-2.3pp
Australian
2021 count
3,300
% of total
26.9%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
3,300
26.9%
-1.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,579
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
1,579
12.9%
+3.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,012
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,012
8.3%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
920
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
920
7.5%
-1.7pp
German
2021 count
612
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
612
5.0%
-0.4pp
Indian
2021 count
560
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
560
4.6%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
413
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
413
3.4%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
322
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
322
2.6%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
300
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
300
2.4%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-121
-2.3pp
Australian
-29
-1.4pp
Chinese
+420
+3.0pp
Scottish
+13
-0.2pp
Irish
-166
-1.7pp
German
-27
-0.4pp
Indian
+78
+0.5pp
Italian
+34
+0.2pp
Dutch
+29
+0.1pp
Filipino
+77
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bayswater (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,669 | 29.9% | 29.6% | 3,790 | 32.2% | 31.5% | -121 | -2.3pp |
| Australian | 3,300 | 26.9% | 27.8% | 3,329 | 28.3% | 29.2% | -29 | -1.4pp |
| Chinese | 1,579 | 12.9% | 14.1% | 1,159 | 9.9% | 11.1% | +420 | +3.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,012 | 8.3% | 7.8% | 999 | 8.5% | 8.1% | +13 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 920 | 7.5% | 8.0% | 1,086 | 9.2% | 9.2% | -166 | -1.7pp |
| German | 612 | 5.0% | 3.8% | 639 | 5.4% | 4.0% | -27 | -0.4pp |
| Indian | 560 | 4.6% | 4.3% | 482 | 4.1% | 3.7% | +78 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 413 | 3.4% | 4.8% | 379 | 3.2% | 4.9% | +34 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 322 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 293 | 2.5% | 2.4% | +29 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 300 | 2.4% | 1.4% | 223 | 1.9% | 1.2% | +77 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).