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 Loddon (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Loddon (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Loddon (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Loddon (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
3,257
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
3,257
21.0%
+0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
3,047
% of total
19.7%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
3,047
19.7%
-1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,013
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,013
6.5%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
901
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
901
5.8%
+0.8pp
German
2021 count
270
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
270
1.7%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
149
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
149
1.0%
+0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
131
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
131
0.8%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
128
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
128
0.8%
+0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
122
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
122
0.8%
+0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
41
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
41
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+217
+0.7pp
Australian
-96
-1.2pp
Scottish
+106
+0.5pp
Irish
+148
+0.8pp
German
-1
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+137
+0.9pp
Italian
+13
0.0pp
Dutch
+33
+0.2pp
Filipino
+54
+0.3pp
Chinese
0
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Loddon (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,257 | 21.0% | 20.3% | 3,040 | 20.3% | 20.0% | +217 | +0.7pp |
| Australian | 3,047 | 19.7% | 19.6% | 3,143 | 20.9% | 20.0% | -96 | -1.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,013 | 6.5% | 5.8% | 907 | 6.0% | 5.7% | +106 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 901 | 5.8% | 6.4% | 753 | 5.0% | 6.5% | +148 | +0.8pp |
| German | 270 | 1.7% | 2.3% | 271 | 1.8% | 2.3% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 149 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 12 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +137 | +0.9pp |
| Italian | 131 | 0.8% | 1.9% | 118 | 0.8% | 1.8% | +13 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 128 | 0.8% | 1.1% | 95 | 0.6% | 1.1% | +33 | +0.2pp |
| Filipino | 122 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 68 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +54 | +0.3pp |
| Chinese | 41 | 0.3% | 0.6% | 41 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 15,476 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 15,004 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +472 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).