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 Wantirna were English, Chinese and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wantirna - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wantirna in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wantirna, with comparison markers for Knox (C).
English
2021 count
3,431
% of total
24.1%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
3,431
24.1%
-3.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
3,334
% of total
23.4%
Change from 2016
+4.7pp
3,334
23.4%
+4.7pp
Australian
2021 count
3,166
% of total
22.2%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
3,166
22.2%
-3.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,049
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,049
7.4%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
996
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
996
7.0%
-1.3pp
Indian
2021 count
801
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
801
5.6%
+1.7pp
Italian
2021 count
582
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
582
4.1%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
366
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
366
2.6%
-0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
348
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
348
2.4%
-0.1pp
Sri Lankan
2021 count
249
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
249
1.7%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-371
-3.4pp
Chinese
+755
+4.7pp
Australian
-337
-3.2pp
Scottish
+13
-0.1pp
Irish
-149
-1.3pp
Indian
+256
+1.7pp
Italian
-7
-0.2pp
German
-46
-0.4pp
Greek
+1
-0.1pp
Sri Lankan
-2
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wantirna. 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 | 3,431 | 24.1% | 29.6% | 3,802 | 27.5% | 31.5% | -371 | -3.4pp |
| Chinese | 3,334 | 23.4% | 14.1% | 2,579 | 18.7% | 11.1% | +755 | +4.7pp |
| Australian | 3,166 | 22.2% | 27.8% | 3,503 | 25.4% | 29.2% | -337 | -3.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,049 | 7.4% | 7.8% | 1,036 | 7.5% | 8.1% | +13 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 996 | 7.0% | 8.0% | 1,145 | 8.3% | 9.2% | -149 | -1.3pp |
| Indian | 801 | 5.6% | 4.3% | 545 | 3.9% | 3.7% | +256 | +1.7pp |
| Italian | 582 | 4.1% | 4.8% | 589 | 4.3% | 4.9% | -7 | -0.2pp |
| German | 366 | 2.6% | 3.8% | 412 | 3.0% | 4.0% | -46 | -0.4pp |
| Greek | 348 | 2.4% | 2.2% | 347 | 2.5% | 2.3% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Sri Lankan | 249 | 1.7% | 1.9% | 251 | 1.8% | 2.2% | -2 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).