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 Ascot Vale were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Ascot Vale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Ascot Vale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moonee Valley (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ascot Vale, with comparison markers for Moonee Valley (C).
English
2021 count
4,099
% of total
27.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4,099
27.0%
0.0pp
Australian
2021 count
3,926
% of total
25.8%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
3,926
25.8%
+1.7pp
Irish
2021 count
2,136
% of total
14.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
2,136
14.1%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
1,567
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,567
10.3%
+0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,359
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,359
8.9%
+0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
879
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
879
5.8%
+0.3pp
Greek
2021 count
583
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
583
3.8%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
535
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
535
3.5%
+0.4pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
524
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
524
3.4%
-0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
307
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
307
2.0%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+118
0.0pp
Australian
+364
+1.7pp
Irish
-12
-0.5pp
Italian
+153
+0.7pp
Scottish
+104
+0.4pp
Chinese
+71
+0.3pp
Greek
+27
0.0pp
German
+75
+0.4pp
Vietnamese
-14
-0.2pp
Indian
+60
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Ascot Vale. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moonee Valley (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Moonee Valley (C)% | Count | % | Moonee Valley (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 4,099 | 27.0% | 24.0% | 3,981 | 27.0% | 23.6% | +118 | 0.0pp |
| Australian | 3,926 | 25.8% | 23.2% | 3,562 | 24.1% | 23.1% | +364 | +1.7pp |
| Irish | 2,136 | 14.1% | 11.3% | 2,148 | 14.6% | 11.8% | -12 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 1,567 | 10.3% | 17.4% | 1,414 | 9.6% | 16.7% | +153 | +0.7pp |
| Scottish | 1,359 | 8.9% | 7.3% | 1,255 | 8.5% | 7.1% | +104 | +0.4pp |
| Chinese | 879 | 5.8% | 5.0% | 808 | 5.5% | 4.8% | +71 | +0.3pp |
| Greek | 583 | 3.8% | 5.3% | 556 | 3.8% | 5.0% | +27 | 0.0pp |
| German | 535 | 3.5% | 2.9% | 460 | 3.1% | 2.7% | +75 | +0.4pp |
| Vietnamese | 524 | 3.4% | 2.8% | 538 | 3.6% | 2.6% | -14 | -0.2pp |
| Indian | 307 | 2.0% | 2.8% | 247 | 1.7% | 2.9% | +60 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).