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 were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Doncaster - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Doncaster in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Manningham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Doncaster, with comparison markers for Manningham (C).
Chinese
2021 count
9,161
% of total
18.3%
Change from 2016
+17.8pp
9,161
18.3%
+17.8pp
English
2021 count
3,626
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-15.8pp
3,626
7.2%
-15.8pp
Australian
2021 count
2,977
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-14.6pp
2,977
6.0%
-14.6pp
Greek
2021 count
2,091
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-
2,091
4.2%
-
Italian
2021 count
1,680
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
1,680
3.4%
+2.2pp
Irish
2021 count
1,030
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-6.4pp
1,030
2.1%
-6.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
970
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
970
1.9%
-4.3pp
Iranian
2021 count
891
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
891
1.8%
-
Indian
2021 count
765
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
765
1.5%
-
Korean
2021 count
422
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
422
0.8%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+9,158
+17.8pp
English
+3,477
-15.8pp
Australian
+2,843
-14.6pp
Italian
+1,672
+2.2pp
Irish
+975
-6.4pp
Scottish
+930
-4.3pp
German
+348
-0.8pp
Filipino
+243
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Doncaster. 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 | 9,161 | 18.3% | 13.4% | 3 | 0.5% | 11.3% | +9,158 | +17.8pp |
| English | 3,626 | 7.2% | 9.7% | 149 | 23.0% | 10.6% | +3,477 | -15.8pp |
| Australian | 2,977 | 6.0% | 8.5% | 134 | 20.6% | 9.2% | +2,843 | -14.6pp |
| Greek | 2,091 | 4.2% | 4.0% | - | - | 4.1% | - | - |
| Italian | 1,680 | 3.4% | 4.8% | 8 | 1.2% | 5.2% | +1,672 | +2.2pp |
| Irish | 1,030 | 2.1% | 2.9% | 55 | 8.5% | 3.4% | +975 | -6.4pp |
| Scottish | 970 | 1.9% | 2.6% | 40 | 6.2% | 2.9% | +930 | -4.3pp |
| Iranian | 891 | 1.8% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Indian | 765 | 1.5% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| Korean | 422 | 0.8% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Total | 50,031 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 649 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +49,382 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).