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 Doncaster East were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Doncaster East - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Doncaster East in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Manningham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Doncaster East, with comparison markers for Manningham (C).
Chinese
2021 count
11,748
% of total
38.0%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
11,748
38.0%
+4.9pp
English
2021 count
4,551
% of total
14.7%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
4,551
14.7%
-2.5pp
Australian
2021 count
3,812
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
3,812
12.3%
-2.1pp
Italian
2021 count
2,189
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
2,189
7.1%
-1.0pp
Greek
2021 count
2,094
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
2,094
6.8%
-0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
1,213
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,213
3.9%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,159
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,159
3.7%
-0.8pp
Indian
2021 count
1,133
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,133
3.7%
+0.6pp
Iranian
2021 count
1,127
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,127
3.6%
+1.0pp
German
2021 count
504
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
504
1.6%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+2,354
+4.9pp
English
-323
-2.5pp
Australian
-273
-2.1pp
Italian
-98
-1.0pp
Greek
-89
-0.9pp
Irish
-154
-0.9pp
Scottish
-121
-0.8pp
Indian
+264
+0.6pp
Iranian
+383
+1.0pp
German
-47
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Doncaster East. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Manningham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Manningham (C)% | Count | % | Manningham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Chinese | 11,748 | 38.0% | 26.9% | 9,394 | 33.1% | 22.7% | +2,354 | +4.9pp |
| English | 4,551 | 14.7% | 19.4% | 4,874 | 17.2% | 21.1% | -323 | -2.5pp |
| Australian | 3,812 | 12.3% | 17.1% | 4,085 | 14.4% | 18.5% | -273 | -2.1pp |
| Italian | 2,189 | 7.1% | 9.6% | 2,287 | 8.1% | 10.5% | -98 | -1.0pp |
| Greek | 2,094 | 6.8% | 8.0% | 2,183 | 7.7% | 8.3% | -89 | -0.9pp |
| Irish | 1,213 | 3.9% | 5.7% | 1,367 | 4.8% | 6.8% | -154 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 1,159 | 3.7% | 5.3% | 1,280 | 4.5% | 5.9% | -121 | -0.8pp |
| Indian | 1,133 | 3.7% | 2.9% | 869 | 3.1% | 2.5% | +264 | +0.6pp |
| Iranian | 1,127 | 3.6% | 2.9% | 744 | 2.6% | 2.0% | +383 | +1.0pp |
| German | 504 | 1.6% | 2.2% | 551 | 1.9% | 2.4% | -47 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).