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 Bedford Park (part) were Australian, English and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bedford Park (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bedford Park (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bedford Park (part), with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
Australian
2021 count
424
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
-11.6pp
424
11.3%
-11.6pp
English
2021 count
423
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
-8.1pp
423
11.3%
-8.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
238
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-
238
6.3%
-
Scottish
2021 count
105
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
105
2.8%
-2.1pp
Irish
2021 count
103
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
103
2.7%
+0.6pp
Indian
2021 count
88
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-
88
2.3%
-
German
2021 count
85
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-8.1pp
85
2.3%
-8.1pp
Italian
2021 count
71
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-
71
1.9%
-
Vietnamese
2021 count
57
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
57
1.5%
-
Greek
2021 count
45
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
45
1.2%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+391
-11.6pp
English
+395
-8.1pp
Scottish
+98
-2.1pp
Irish
+100
+0.6pp
German
+70
-8.1pp
Inadequately described
+7
-1.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bedford Park (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 424 | 11.3% | 16.8% | 33 | 22.9% | 16.7% | +391 | -11.6pp |
| English | 423 | 11.3% | 21.1% | 28 | 19.4% | 20.7% | +395 | -8.1pp |
| Chinese | 238 | 6.3% | 2.2% | - | - | 2.0% | - | - |
| Scottish | 105 | 2.8% | 5.3% | 7 | 4.9% | 5.1% | +98 | -2.1pp |
| Irish | 103 | 2.7% | 4.7% | 3 | 2.1% | 5.0% | +100 | +0.6pp |
| Indian | 88 | 2.3% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| German | 85 | 2.3% | 4.1% | 15 | 10.4% | 4.1% | +70 | -8.1pp |
| Italian | 71 | 1.9% | 2.2% | - | - | 2.0% | - | - |
| Vietnamese | 57 | 1.5% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Greek | 45 | 1.2% | 1.7% | - | - | 1.8% | - | - |
| Total | 3,751 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 144 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,607 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).