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 Moonee Ponds were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Moonee Ponds - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Moonee Ponds in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moonee Valley (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Moonee Ponds, with comparison markers for Moonee Valley (C).
English
2021 count
4,377
% of total
27.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
4,377
27.0%
+0.8pp
Australian
2021 count
3,853
% of total
23.7%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
3,853
23.7%
-1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
2,658
% of total
16.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
2,658
16.4%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
2,100
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
2,100
12.9%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,452
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
1,452
8.9%
+0.8pp
Greek
2021 count
812
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
812
5.0%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
802
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
802
4.9%
+0.9pp
Indian
2021 count
540
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
540
3.3%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
525
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
525
3.2%
-0.1pp
Maltese
2021 count
374
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
374
2.3%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+637
+0.8pp
Australian
+293
-1.3pp
Italian
+257
-0.4pp
Irish
+118
-1.0pp
Scottish
+296
+0.8pp
Greek
+65
-0.2pp
Chinese
+239
+0.9pp
Indian
+127
+0.4pp
German
+48
-0.1pp
Maltese
+100
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Moonee Ponds. 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 | 4,377 | 27.0% | 24.0% | 3,740 | 26.2% | 23.6% | +637 | +0.8pp |
| Australian | 3,853 | 23.7% | 23.2% | 3,560 | 25.0% | 23.1% | +293 | -1.3pp |
| Italian | 2,658 | 16.4% | 17.4% | 2,401 | 16.8% | 16.7% | +257 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 2,100 | 12.9% | 11.3% | 1,982 | 13.9% | 11.8% | +118 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,452 | 8.9% | 7.3% | 1,156 | 8.1% | 7.1% | +296 | +0.8pp |
| Greek | 812 | 5.0% | 5.3% | 747 | 5.2% | 5.0% | +65 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 802 | 4.9% | 5.0% | 563 | 4.0% | 4.8% | +239 | +0.9pp |
| Indian | 540 | 3.3% | 2.8% | 413 | 2.9% | 2.9% | +127 | +0.4pp |
| German | 525 | 3.2% | 2.9% | 477 | 3.3% | 2.7% | +48 | -0.1pp |
| Maltese | 374 | 2.3% | 2.7% | 274 | 1.9% | 2.4% | +100 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).