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 Keilor East (part) were Italian, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Keilor East (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Keilor East (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moonee Valley (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Keilor East (part), with comparison markers for Moonee Valley (C).
Italian
2021 count
3,688
% of total
24.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
3,688
24.5%
+0.5pp
Australian
2021 count
3,157
% of total
20.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
3,157
20.9%
-0.4pp
English
2021 count
3,008
% of total
19.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
3,008
19.9%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,152
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,152
7.6%
-0.6pp
Greek
2021 count
1,115
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,115
7.4%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
799
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
799
5.3%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
696
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
696
4.6%
+0.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
513
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
513
3.4%
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
499
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
499
3.3%
+0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
359
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
359
2.4%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Italian
+201
+0.5pp
Australian
+72
-0.4pp
English
+104
-0.1pp
Irish
-34
-0.6pp
Greek
+75
+0.2pp
Scottish
+6
-0.2pp
Chinese
+54
+0.2pp
Maltese
+66
+0.3pp
Vietnamese
+62
+0.3pp
Indian
-19
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Keilor East (part). 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 | |
| Italian | 3,688 | 24.5% | 17.4% | 3,487 | 24.0% | 16.7% | +201 | +0.5pp |
| Australian | 3,157 | 20.9% | 23.2% | 3,085 | 21.3% | 23.1% | +72 | -0.4pp |
| English | 3,008 | 19.9% | 24.0% | 2,904 | 20.0% | 23.6% | +104 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 1,152 | 7.6% | 11.3% | 1,186 | 8.2% | 11.8% | -34 | -0.6pp |
| Greek | 1,115 | 7.4% | 5.3% | 1,040 | 7.2% | 5.0% | +75 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 799 | 5.3% | 7.3% | 793 | 5.5% | 7.1% | +6 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 696 | 4.6% | 5.0% | 642 | 4.4% | 4.8% | +54 | +0.2pp |
| Maltese | 513 | 3.4% | 2.7% | 447 | 3.1% | 2.4% | +66 | +0.3pp |
| Vietnamese | 499 | 3.3% | 2.8% | 437 | 3.0% | 2.6% | +62 | +0.3pp |
| Indian | 359 | 2.4% | 2.8% | 378 | 2.6% | 2.9% | -19 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).