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
10.5%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
37,413
10.5%
-1.6pp
English
2021 count
33,162
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
33,162
9.3%
-1.9pp
Indian
2021 count
14,301
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
14,301
4.0%
+1.5pp
Maltese
2021 count
11,636
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
11,636
3.3%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
10,689
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
10,689
3.0%
-0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
8,419
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
8,419
2.4%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
7,831
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
7,831
2.2%
-0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
7,160
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
7,160
2.0%
-0.5pp
Punjabi
2021 count
5,539
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
5,539
1.5%
+1.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
5,040
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
5,040
1.4%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+4,750
-1.6pp
English
+2,730
-1.9pp
Indian
+7,466
+1.5pp
Maltese
+1,359
-0.5pp
Italian
+1,713
-0.3pp
Filipino
+2,880
+0.4pp
Irish
-331
-0.8pp
Scottish
+307
-0.5pp
Punjabi
+4,860
+1.2pp
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 | 10.5% | 11.7% | 32,663 | 12.1% | 12.0% | +4,750 | -1.6pp |
| English | 33,162 | 9.3% | 12.8% | 30,432 | 11.2% | 13.3% | +2,730 | -1.9pp |
| Indian | 14,301 | 4.0% | 2.7% | 6,835 | 2.5% | 2.2% | +7,466 | +1.5pp |
| Maltese | 11,636 | 3.3% | 0.7% | 10,277 | 3.8% | 0.7% | +1,359 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 10,689 | 3.0% | 3.3% | 8,976 | 3.3% | 3.3% | +1,713 | -0.3pp |
| Filipino | 8,419 | 2.4% | 0.8% | 5,539 | 2.0% | 0.7% | +2,880 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 7,831 | 2.2% | 4.2% | 8,162 | 3.0% | 4.6% | -331 | -0.8pp |
| Scottish | 7,160 | 2.0% | 3.6% | 6,853 | 2.5% | 3.7% | +307 | -0.5pp |
| Punjabi | 5,539 | 1.5% | 0.5% | 679 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +4,860 | +1.2pp |
| Chinese | 5,040 | 1.4% | 4.2% | 3,941 | 1.5% | 4.0% | +1,099 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 357,872 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 270,901 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +86,971 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).