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 Greendale (Vic.) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Greendale (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Greendale (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moorabool (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greendale (Vic.), with comparison markers for Moorabool (S).
English
2021 count
262
% of total
42.1%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
262
42.1%
+3.9pp
Australian
2021 count
253
% of total
40.6%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
253
40.6%
-3.6pp
Irish
2021 count
88
% of total
14.1%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
88
14.1%
+4.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
69
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
69
11.1%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
40
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
40
6.4%
+2.4pp
Italian
2021 count
24
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
24
3.9%
+1.1pp
Maltese
2021 count
20
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
20
3.2%
+0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
15
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
15
2.4%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+32
+3.9pp
Australian
-13
-3.6pp
Irish
+28
+4.1pp
Scottish
-1
-0.5pp
German
+16
+2.4pp
Italian
+7
+1.1pp
Maltese
+5
+0.7pp
Dutch
-4
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Greendale (Vic.). 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 | |
| English | 262 | 42.1% | 38.8% | 230 | 38.2% | 39.4% | +32 | +3.9pp |
| Australian | 253 | 40.6% | 39.2% | 266 | 44.2% | 39.9% | -13 | -3.6pp |
| Irish | 88 | 14.1% | 13.2% | 60 | 10.0% | 14.5% | +28 | +4.1pp |
| Scottish | 69 | 11.1% | 11.4% | 70 | 11.6% | 11.2% | -1 | -0.5pp |
| German | 40 | 6.4% | 4.3% | 24 | 4.0% | 4.5% | +16 | +2.4pp |
| Italian | 24 | 3.9% | 3.9% | 17 | 2.8% | 3.8% | +7 | +1.1pp |
| Maltese | 20 | 3.2% | 3.9% | 15 | 2.5% | 3.4% | +5 | +0.7pp |
| Dutch | 15 | 2.4% | 2.3% | 19 | 3.2% | 2.1% | -4 | -0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).