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 Pasadena were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Pasadena - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Pasadena in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Pasadena, with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
1,014
% of total
33.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
1,014
33.0%
-0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
889
% of total
28.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
889
28.9%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
257
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
257
8.4%
+0.3pp
Greek
2021 count
245
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
245
8.0%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
193
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
193
6.3%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
191
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
191
6.2%
+0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
190
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
190
6.2%
+1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
138
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
138
4.5%
-0.7pp
Indian
2021 count
105
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
105
3.4%
+1.2pp
Lebanese
2021 count
55
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
55
1.8%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+6
-0.7pp
Australian
+22
-0.1pp
German
+14
+0.3pp
Greek
+1
-0.2pp
Scottish
-8
-0.4pp
Irish
+11
+0.2pp
Chinese
+44
+1.3pp
Italian
-17
-0.7pp
Indian
+40
+1.2pp
Lebanese
+7
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Pasadena. 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 | 1,014 | 33.0% | 42.1% | 1,008 | 33.7% | 41.5% | +6 | -0.7pp |
| Australian | 889 | 28.9% | 33.7% | 867 | 29.0% | 33.3% | +22 | -0.1pp |
| German | 257 | 8.4% | 8.3% | 243 | 8.1% | 8.1% | +14 | +0.3pp |
| Greek | 245 | 8.0% | 3.5% | 244 | 8.2% | 3.5% | +1 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 193 | 6.3% | 10.6% | 201 | 6.7% | 10.2% | -8 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 191 | 6.2% | 9.5% | 180 | 6.0% | 10.0% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| Chinese | 190 | 6.2% | 4.3% | 146 | 4.9% | 4.0% | +44 | +1.3pp |
| Italian | 138 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 155 | 5.2% | 4.0% | -17 | -0.7pp |
| Indian | 105 | 3.4% | 1.9% | 65 | 2.2% | 1.6% | +40 | +1.2pp |
| Lebanese | 55 | 1.8% | 0.7% | 48 | 1.6% | 0.7% | +7 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).