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 Essendon North were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Essendon North - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Essendon North in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moonee Valley (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Essendon North, with comparison markers for Moonee Valley (C).
English
2021 count
753
% of total
24.5%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
753
24.5%
+2.2pp
Australian
2021 count
650
% of total
21.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
650
21.2%
-1.4pp
Italian
2021 count
480
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
480
15.6%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
349
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
349
11.4%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
208
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
208
6.8%
+0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
196
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
196
6.4%
-2.0pp
Greek
2021 count
136
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
136
4.4%
+0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
134
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
134
4.4%
+1.1pp
German
2021 count
82
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
82
2.7%
-0.3pp
Maltese
2021 count
82
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
82
2.7%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+87
+2.2pp
Australian
-26
-1.4pp
Italian
+29
+0.5pp
Irish
+6
-0.1pp
Scottish
+7
+0.1pp
Indian
-56
-2.0pp
Greek
+23
+0.6pp
Chinese
+35
+1.1pp
German
-7
-0.3pp
Maltese
+1
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Essendon North. 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 | 753 | 24.5% | 24.0% | 666 | 22.3% | 23.6% | +87 | +2.2pp |
| Australian | 650 | 21.2% | 23.2% | 676 | 22.6% | 23.1% | -26 | -1.4pp |
| Italian | 480 | 15.6% | 17.4% | 451 | 15.1% | 16.7% | +29 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 349 | 11.4% | 11.3% | 343 | 11.5% | 11.8% | +6 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 208 | 6.8% | 7.3% | 201 | 6.7% | 7.1% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Indian | 196 | 6.4% | 2.8% | 252 | 8.4% | 2.9% | -56 | -2.0pp |
| Greek | 136 | 4.4% | 5.3% | 113 | 3.8% | 5.0% | +23 | +0.6pp |
| Chinese | 134 | 4.4% | 5.0% | 99 | 3.3% | 4.8% | +35 | +1.1pp |
| German | 82 | 2.7% | 2.9% | 89 | 3.0% | 2.7% | -7 | -0.3pp |
| Maltese | 82 | 2.7% | 2.7% | 81 | 2.7% | 2.4% | +1 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).