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 Lower Mitcham were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lower Mitcham - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lower Mitcham in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lower Mitcham, with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
972
% of total
44.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
972
44.4%
-0.3pp
Australian
2021 count
742
% of total
33.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
742
33.9%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
268
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
268
12.3%
+1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
224
% of total
10.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
224
10.2%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
174
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
174
8.0%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
147
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
147
6.7%
+0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
101
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
101
4.6%
+0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
60
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
60
2.7%
-0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
45
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
45
2.1%
+0.1pp
Lebanese
2021 count
30
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
30
1.4%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+10
-0.3pp
Australian
0
-0.6pp
Scottish
+30
+1.2pp
Irish
-6
-0.5pp
German
+7
+0.2pp
Italian
+12
+0.4pp
Chinese
+5
+0.1pp
Greek
-5
-0.3pp
Dutch
+2
+0.1pp
Lebanese
+11
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lower Mitcham. 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 | 972 | 44.4% | 42.1% | 962 | 44.7% | 41.5% | +10 | -0.3pp |
| Australian | 742 | 33.9% | 33.7% | 742 | 34.5% | 33.3% | 0 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 268 | 12.3% | 10.6% | 238 | 11.1% | 10.2% | +30 | +1.2pp |
| Irish | 224 | 10.2% | 9.5% | 230 | 10.7% | 10.0% | -6 | -0.5pp |
| German | 174 | 8.0% | 8.3% | 167 | 7.8% | 8.1% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 147 | 6.7% | 4.5% | 135 | 6.3% | 4.0% | +12 | +0.4pp |
| Chinese | 101 | 4.6% | 4.3% | 96 | 4.5% | 4.0% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Greek | 60 | 2.7% | 3.5% | 65 | 3.0% | 3.5% | -5 | -0.3pp |
| Dutch | 45 | 2.1% | 1.9% | 43 | 2.0% | 1.7% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Lebanese | 30 | 1.4% | 0.7% | 19 | 0.9% | 0.7% | +11 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).