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 Balliang East were Australian, English and Maltese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Balliang East - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Balliang East in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moorabool (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Balliang East, with comparison markers for Moorabool (S).
Australian
2021 count
76
% of total
20.3%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
76
20.3%
+2.9pp
English
2021 count
59
% of total
15.7%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
59
15.7%
-1.0pp
Maltese
2021 count
14
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-
14
3.7%
-
Scottish
2021 count
12
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
12
3.2%
-2.4pp
Irish
2021 count
10
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-9.1pp
10
2.7%
-9.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+51
+2.9pp
English
+35
-1.0pp
Scottish
+4
-2.4pp
Irish
-7
-9.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Balliang East. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moorabool (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Moorabool (S)% | Count | % | Moorabool (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 76 | 20.3% | 19.6% | 25 | 17.4% | 19.9% | +51 | +2.9pp |
| English | 59 | 15.7% | 19.4% | 24 | 16.7% | 19.7% | +35 | -1.0pp |
| Maltese | 14 | 3.7% | 1.9% | - | - | 1.7% | - | - |
| Scottish | 12 | 3.2% | 5.7% | 8 | 5.6% | 5.6% | +4 | -2.4pp |
| Irish | 10 | 2.7% | 6.6% | 17 | 11.8% | 7.3% | -7 | -9.1pp |
| Total | 375 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 144 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +231 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).