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 Urrbrae were English, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Urrbrae - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Urrbrae in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Urrbrae, with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
402
% of total
37.6%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
402
37.6%
+1.8pp
Australian
2021 count
306
% of total
28.6%
Change from 2016
-4.5pp
306
28.6%
-4.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
132
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
132
12.3%
+1.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
116
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
116
10.8%
+1.9pp
Irish
2021 count
87
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
87
8.1%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
68
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
68
6.4%
+1.4pp
Italian
2021 count
64
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
64
6.0%
+1.0pp
Greek
2021 count
33
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
33
3.1%
-0.6pp
Korean
2021 count
25
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
25
2.3%
+1.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
23
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
23
2.1%
+1.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+56
+1.8pp
Australian
-14
-4.5pp
Chinese
+26
+1.3pp
Scottish
+30
+1.9pp
Irish
+12
+0.3pp
German
+20
+1.4pp
Italian
+16
+1.0pp
Greek
-3
-0.6pp
Korean
+14
+1.2pp
Dutch
+12
+1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Urrbrae. 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 | 402 | 37.6% | 42.1% | 346 | 35.8% | 41.5% | +56 | +1.8pp |
| Australian | 306 | 28.6% | 33.7% | 320 | 33.1% | 33.3% | -14 | -4.5pp |
| Chinese | 132 | 12.3% | 4.3% | 106 | 11.0% | 4.0% | +26 | +1.3pp |
| Scottish | 116 | 10.8% | 10.6% | 86 | 8.9% | 10.2% | +30 | +1.9pp |
| Irish | 87 | 8.1% | 9.5% | 75 | 7.8% | 10.0% | +12 | +0.3pp |
| German | 68 | 6.4% | 8.3% | 48 | 5.0% | 8.1% | +20 | +1.4pp |
| Italian | 64 | 6.0% | 4.5% | 48 | 5.0% | 4.0% | +16 | +1.0pp |
| Greek | 33 | 3.1% | 3.5% | 36 | 3.7% | 3.5% | -3 | -0.6pp |
| Korean | 25 | 2.3% | 0.3% | 11 | 1.1% | 0.3% | +14 | +1.2pp |
| Dutch | 23 | 2.1% | 1.9% | 11 | 1.1% | 1.7% | +12 | +1.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).