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 Donvale were English, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Donvale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Donvale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Manningham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Donvale, with comparison markers for Manningham (C).
English
2021 count
3,105
% of total
24.6%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
3,105
24.6%
-1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
2,757
% of total
21.8%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
2,757
21.8%
-2.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
2,647
% of total
20.9%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
2,647
20.9%
+4.9pp
Italian
2021 count
1,130
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,130
8.9%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
904
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
904
7.1%
-1.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
896
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
896
7.1%
-0.5pp
Greek
2021 count
646
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
646
5.1%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
406
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
406
3.2%
-0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
343
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
343
2.7%
+0.1pp
Iranian
2021 count
281
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
281
2.2%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-136
-1.6pp
Australian
-262
-2.7pp
Chinese
+666
+4.9pp
Italian
-21
-0.4pp
Irish
-153
-1.5pp
Scottish
-39
-0.5pp
Greek
-29
-0.4pp
German
+1
-0.1pp
Indian
+28
+0.1pp
Iranian
+89
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Donvale. 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 | |
| English | 3,105 | 24.6% | 19.4% | 3,241 | 26.2% | 21.1% | -136 | -1.6pp |
| Australian | 2,757 | 21.8% | 17.1% | 3,019 | 24.5% | 18.5% | -262 | -2.7pp |
| Chinese | 2,647 | 20.9% | 26.9% | 1,981 | 16.0% | 22.7% | +666 | +4.9pp |
| Italian | 1,130 | 8.9% | 9.6% | 1,151 | 9.3% | 10.5% | -21 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 904 | 7.1% | 5.7% | 1,057 | 8.6% | 6.8% | -153 | -1.5pp |
| Scottish | 896 | 7.1% | 5.3% | 935 | 7.6% | 5.9% | -39 | -0.5pp |
| Greek | 646 | 5.1% | 8.0% | 675 | 5.5% | 8.3% | -29 | -0.4pp |
| German | 406 | 3.2% | 2.2% | 405 | 3.3% | 2.4% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Indian | 343 | 2.7% | 2.9% | 315 | 2.6% | 2.5% | +28 | +0.1pp |
| Iranian | 281 | 2.2% | 2.9% | 192 | 1.6% | 2.0% | +89 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).