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 West were Australian, English and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Essendon West - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Essendon West 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 West, with comparison markers for Moonee Valley (C).
Australian
2021 count
421
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
421
13.6%
-4.6pp
English
2021 count
398
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
-11.1pp
398
12.9%
-11.1pp
Italian
2021 count
288
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
+7.6pp
288
9.3%
+7.6pp
Irish
2021 count
200
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
200
6.5%
-0.9pp
Greek
2021 count
82
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-
82
2.7%
-
Scottish
2021 count
80
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
80
2.6%
-4.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
72
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-
72
2.3%
-
Maltese
2021 count
49
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
49
1.6%
-
Vietnamese
2021 count
44
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
44
1.4%
-
Indian
2021 count
39
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
39
1.3%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+377
-4.6pp
English
+340
-11.1pp
Italian
+284
+7.6pp
Irish
+182
-0.9pp
Scottish
+64
-4.0pp
German
+26
-0.7pp
Dutch
+17
-0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Essendon West. 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 | |
| Australian | 421 | 13.6% | 11.6% | 44 | 18.2% | 11.5% | +377 | -4.6pp |
| English | 398 | 12.9% | 12.0% | 58 | 24.0% | 11.8% | +340 | -11.1pp |
| Italian | 288 | 9.3% | 8.7% | 4 | 1.7% | 8.3% | +284 | +7.6pp |
| Irish | 200 | 6.5% | 5.7% | 18 | 7.4% | 5.9% | +182 | -0.9pp |
| Greek | 82 | 2.7% | 2.6% | - | - | 2.5% | - | - |
| Scottish | 80 | 2.6% | 3.6% | 16 | 6.6% | 3.5% | +64 | -4.0pp |
| Chinese | 72 | 2.3% | 2.5% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| Maltese | 49 | 1.6% | 1.3% | - | - | 1.2% | - | - |
| Vietnamese | 44 | 1.4% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| Indian | 39 | 1.3% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.5% | - | - |
| Total | 3,093 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 242 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,851 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).