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 Templestowe Lower were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Templestowe Lower - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Templestowe Lower in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Manningham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Templestowe Lower, with comparison markers for Manningham (C).
Chinese
2021 count
2,979
% of total
21.1%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
2,979
21.1%
+2.1pp
English
2021 count
2,628
% of total
18.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
2,628
18.6%
-0.9pp
Australian
2021 count
2,477
% of total
17.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,477
17.6%
-0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
1,707
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,707
12.1%
-0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
1,655
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,655
11.7%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
862
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
862
6.1%
-1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
710
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
710
5.0%
-0.4pp
Iranian
2021 count
412
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
412
2.9%
+1.1pp
Indian
2021 count
372
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
372
2.6%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
292
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
292
2.1%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+423
+2.1pp
English
+4
-0.9pp
Australian
+24
-0.6pp
Italian
+20
-0.4pp
Greek
+90
+0.1pp
Irish
-145
-1.4pp
Scottish
-13
-0.4pp
Iranian
+169
+1.1pp
Indian
+93
+0.5pp
German
-26
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Templestowe Lower. 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 | 2,979 | 21.1% | 26.9% | 2,556 | 19.0% | 22.7% | +423 | +2.1pp |
| English | 2,628 | 18.6% | 19.4% | 2,624 | 19.5% | 21.1% | +4 | -0.9pp |
| Australian | 2,477 | 17.6% | 17.1% | 2,453 | 18.2% | 18.5% | +24 | -0.6pp |
| Italian | 1,707 | 12.1% | 9.6% | 1,687 | 12.5% | 10.5% | +20 | -0.4pp |
| Greek | 1,655 | 11.7% | 8.0% | 1,565 | 11.6% | 8.3% | +90 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 862 | 6.1% | 5.7% | 1,007 | 7.5% | 6.8% | -145 | -1.4pp |
| Scottish | 710 | 5.0% | 5.3% | 723 | 5.4% | 5.9% | -13 | -0.4pp |
| Iranian | 412 | 2.9% | 2.9% | 243 | 1.8% | 2.0% | +169 | +1.1pp |
| Indian | 372 | 2.6% | 2.9% | 279 | 2.1% | 2.5% | +93 | +0.5pp |
| German | 292 | 2.1% | 2.2% | 318 | 2.4% | 2.4% | -26 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).