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 Melton (C) were Australian, English and Indian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Melton (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Melton (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melton (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Australian
2021 count
37,413
% of total
20.9%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
37,413
20.9%
-3.2pp
English
2021 count
33,162
% of total
18.5%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
33,162
18.5%
-4.0pp
Indian
2021 count
14,301
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
14,301
8.0%
+3.0pp
Maltese
2021 count
11,636
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
11,636
6.5%
-1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
10,689
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
10,689
6.0%
-0.6pp
Filipino
2021 count
8,419
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
8,419
4.7%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
7,831
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
7,831
4.4%
-1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
7,160
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
7,160
4.0%
-1.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
5,539
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
5,539
3.1%
+2.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
5,040
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
5,040
2.8%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+4,750
-3.2pp
English
+2,730
-4.0pp
Indian
+7,466
+3.0pp
Maltese
+1,359
-1.1pp
Italian
+1,713
-0.6pp
Filipino
+2,880
+0.6pp
Irish
-331
-1.6pp
Scottish
+307
-1.1pp
Punjabi
+4,860
+2.6pp
Chinese
+1,099
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Melton (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 37,413 | 20.9% | 23.4% | 32,663 | 24.1% | 24.0% | +4,750 | -3.2pp |
| English | 33,162 | 18.5% | 25.6% | 30,432 | 22.5% | 26.6% | +2,730 | -4.0pp |
| Indian | 14,301 | 8.0% | 5.3% | 6,835 | 5.0% | 4.4% | +7,466 | +3.0pp |
| Maltese | 11,636 | 6.5% | 1.4% | 10,277 | 7.6% | 1.5% | +1,359 | -1.1pp |
| Italian | 10,689 | 6.0% | 6.6% | 8,976 | 6.6% | 6.7% | +1,713 | -0.6pp |
| Filipino | 8,419 | 4.7% | 1.7% | 5,539 | 4.1% | 1.3% | +2,880 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 7,831 | 4.4% | 8.3% | 8,162 | 6.0% | 9.1% | -331 | -1.6pp |
| Scottish | 7,160 | 4.0% | 7.1% | 6,853 | 5.1% | 7.3% | +307 | -1.1pp |
| Punjabi | 5,539 | 3.1% | 1.0% | 679 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +4,860 | +2.6pp |
| Chinese | 5,040 | 2.8% | 8.3% | 3,941 | 2.9% | 7.9% | +1,099 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).