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 Daw Park were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Daw Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Daw Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Daw Park, with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
1,015
% of total
37.5%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
1,015
37.5%
+2.1pp
Australian
2021 count
794
% of total
29.4%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
794
29.4%
-3.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
245
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
245
9.1%
+0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
244
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
244
9.0%
-0.8pp
German
2021 count
200
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
200
7.4%
-1.1pp
Greek
2021 count
156
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
156
5.8%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
153
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
153
5.7%
+0.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
112
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
112
4.1%
+0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
69
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
69
2.6%
+0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
55
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
55
2.0%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+69
+2.1pp
Australian
-81
-3.3pp
Scottish
+20
+0.7pp
Irish
-19
-0.8pp
German
-26
-1.1pp
Greek
+15
+0.5pp
Italian
+22
+0.8pp
Chinese
+5
+0.1pp
Indian
+3
+0.1pp
Polish
-12
-0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Daw Park. 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 | |
| English | 1,015 | 37.5% | 42.1% | 946 | 35.4% | 41.5% | +69 | +2.1pp |
| Australian | 794 | 29.4% | 33.7% | 875 | 32.7% | 33.3% | -81 | -3.3pp |
| Scottish | 245 | 9.1% | 10.6% | 225 | 8.4% | 10.2% | +20 | +0.7pp |
| Irish | 244 | 9.0% | 9.5% | 263 | 9.8% | 10.0% | -19 | -0.8pp |
| German | 200 | 7.4% | 8.3% | 226 | 8.5% | 8.1% | -26 | -1.1pp |
| Greek | 156 | 5.8% | 3.5% | 141 | 5.3% | 3.5% | +15 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 153 | 5.7% | 4.5% | 131 | 4.9% | 4.0% | +22 | +0.8pp |
| Chinese | 112 | 4.1% | 4.3% | 107 | 4.0% | 4.0% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Indian | 69 | 2.6% | 1.9% | 66 | 2.5% | 1.6% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Polish | 55 | 2.0% | 1.4% | 67 | 2.5% | 1.2% | -12 | -0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).