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 Moorabool (S) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Moorabool (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Moorabool (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Moorabool (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Australian
2021 count
14,767
% of total
39.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
14,767
39.2%
-0.7pp
English
2021 count
14,604
% of total
38.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
14,604
38.8%
-0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
4,966
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
4,966
13.2%
-1.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
4,282
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
4,282
11.4%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
1,609
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,609
4.3%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
1,486
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,486
3.9%
+0.1pp
Maltese
2021 count
1,466
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,466
3.9%
+0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
859
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
859
2.3%
+0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
660
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
660
1.8%
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
526
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
526
1.4%
+1.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+2,076
-0.7pp
English
+2,066
-0.6pp
Irish
+339
-1.3pp
Scottish
+715
+0.2pp
German
+182
-0.2pp
Italian
+290
+0.1pp
Maltese
+391
+0.5pp
Dutch
+185
+0.2pp
Indian
+434
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+458
+1.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Moorabool (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 14,767 | 39.2% | 39.2% | 12,691 | 39.9% | 40.0% | +2,076 | -0.7pp |
| English | 14,604 | 38.8% | 40.6% | 12,538 | 39.4% | 40.1% | +2,066 | -0.6pp |
| Irish | 4,966 | 13.2% | 12.9% | 4,627 | 14.5% | 13.0% | +339 | -1.3pp |
| Scottish | 4,282 | 11.4% | 11.7% | 3,567 | 11.2% | 11.3% | +715 | +0.2pp |
| German | 1,609 | 4.3% | 4.6% | 1,427 | 4.5% | 4.6% | +182 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 1,486 | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1,196 | 3.8% | 3.7% | +290 | +0.1pp |
| Maltese | 1,466 | 3.9% | 0.7% | 1,075 | 3.4% | 0.6% | +391 | +0.5pp |
| Dutch | 859 | 2.3% | 2.3% | 674 | 2.1% | 2.2% | +185 | +0.2pp |
| Indian | 660 | 1.8% | 1.0% | 226 | 0.7% | 0.7% | +434 | +1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 526 | 1.4% | 1.9% | 68 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +458 | +1.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).