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
12.3%
Change from 2016
-7.7pp
3,105
12.3%
-7.7pp
Australian
2021 count
2,757
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
-9.1pp
2,757
10.9%
-9.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
2,647
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
-
2,647
10.5%
-
Italian
2021 count
1,130
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-
1,130
4.5%
-
Irish
2021 count
904
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
904
3.6%
-0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
896
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
896
3.5%
-3.2pp
Greek
2021 count
646
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-
646
2.6%
-
German
2021 count
406
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
406
1.6%
-
Indian
2021 count
343
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
343
1.4%
-
Iranian
2021 count
281
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
281
1.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,090
-7.7pp
Australian
+2,742
-9.1pp
Irish
+901
-0.4pp
Scottish
+891
-3.2pp
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 | 12.3% | 9.7% | 15 | 20.0% | 10.6% | +3,090 | -7.7pp |
| Australian | 2,757 | 10.9% | 8.5% | 15 | 20.0% | 9.2% | +2,742 | -9.1pp |
| Chinese | 2,647 | 10.5% | 13.4% | - | - | 11.3% | - | - |
| Italian | 1,130 | 4.5% | 4.8% | - | - | 5.2% | - | - |
| Irish | 904 | 3.6% | 2.9% | 3 | 4.0% | 3.4% | +901 | -0.4pp |
| Scottish | 896 | 3.5% | 2.6% | 5 | 6.7% | 2.9% | +891 | -3.2pp |
| Greek | 646 | 2.6% | 4.0% | - | - | 4.1% | - | - |
| German | 406 | 1.6% | 1.1% | - | - | 1.2% | - | - |
| Indian | 343 | 1.4% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| Iranian | 281 | 1.1% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Total | 25,263 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 75 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +25,188 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).