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 Latrobe (C) (Vic.) were Australian, English and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Latrobe (C) (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Latrobe (C) (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Latrobe (C) (Vic.), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..

Latrobe (C) (Vic.)
Regional Vic.

Australian

2021 count

30,536

% of total

19.7%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

English

2021 count

30,240

% of total

19.6%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Scottish

2021 count

8,301

% of total

5.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Irish

2021 count

7,450

% of total

4.8%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Italian

2021 count

3,426

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

German

2021 count

3,264

% of total

2.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Dutch

2021 count

2,883

% of total

1.9%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Maltese

2021 count

1,625

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

1,519

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Filipino

2021 count

879

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Data table

Ancestry for Latrobe (C) (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..

Ancestry for Latrobe (C) (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Ancestry for Latrobe (C) (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Vic.%Count%Regional Vic.%Countpp
Australian30,53619.7%19.6%29,40320.1%20.0%+1,133-0.4pp
English30,24019.6%20.3%28,12519.2%20.0%+2,115+0.4pp
Scottish8,3015.4%5.8%7,7745.3%5.7%+527+0.1pp
Irish7,4504.8%6.4%7,5785.2%6.5%-128-0.4pp
Italian3,4262.2%1.9%3,1802.2%1.8%+2460.0pp
German3,2642.1%2.3%3,2472.2%2.3%+17-0.1pp
Dutch2,8831.9%1.1%2,7231.9%1.1%+1600.0pp
Maltese1,6251.1%0.3%1,5611.1%0.3%+640.0pp
Australian Aboriginal1,5191.0%1.0%1460.1%0.1%+1,373+0.9pp
Filipino8790.6%0.4%5810.4%0.3%+298+0.2pp
Total154,621100.0%100.0%146,467100.0%100.0%+8,1540.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).