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 Carlton (Vic.) were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Carlton (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Carlton (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Carlton (Vic.), with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
Chinese
2021 count
3,964
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
+5.1pp
3,964
12.3%
+5.1pp
English
2021 count
3,110
% of total
9.7%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
3,110
9.7%
-1.4pp
Australian
2021 count
2,137
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
2,137
6.7%
-3.4pp
Irish
2021 count
1,317
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,317
4.1%
-0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,041
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,041
3.2%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
854
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
854
2.7%
+0.8pp
Indian
2021 count
795
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
795
2.5%
-2.2pp
German
2021 count
423
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
423
1.3%
-0.2pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
394
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
394
1.2%
+0.7pp
Somali
2021 count
331
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
331
1.0%
+1.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+1,445
+5.1pp
English
-741
-1.4pp
Australian
-1,377
-3.4pp
Irish
-280
-0.5pp
Scottish
-153
-0.2pp
Italian
+194
+0.8pp
Indian
-835
-2.2pp
German
-96
-0.2pp
Vietnamese
+232
+0.7pp
Somali
+328
+1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Carlton (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Chinese | 3,964 | 12.3% | 11.5% | 2,519 | 7.2% | 14.0% | +1,445 | +5.1pp |
| English | 3,110 | 9.7% | 9.7% | 3,851 | 11.1% | 8.7% | -741 | -1.4pp |
| Australian | 2,137 | 6.7% | 6.9% | 3,514 | 10.1% | 6.0% | -1,377 | -3.4pp |
| Irish | 1,317 | 4.1% | 4.0% | 1,597 | 4.6% | 3.7% | -280 | -0.5pp |
| Scottish | 1,041 | 3.2% | 3.1% | 1,194 | 3.4% | 2.8% | -153 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 854 | 2.7% | 2.0% | 660 | 1.9% | 1.8% | +194 | +0.8pp |
| Indian | 795 | 2.5% | 3.3% | 1,630 | 4.7% | 2.6% | -835 | -2.2pp |
| German | 423 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 519 | 1.5% | 1.2% | -96 | -0.2pp |
| Vietnamese | 394 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 162 | 0.5% | 0.9% | +232 | +0.7pp |
| Somali | 331 | 1.0% | 0.3% | 3 | 0.0% | 0.4% | +328 | +1.0pp |
| Total | 32,099 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 34,759 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -2,660 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).