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 Merrimu were Australian, English and Maltese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Merrimu - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Merrimu in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moorabool (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Merrimu, with comparison markers for Moorabool (S).
Australian
2021 count
145
% of total
36.5%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
145
36.5%
+1.5pp
English
2021 count
124
% of total
31.2%
Change from 2016
-9.4pp
124
31.2%
-9.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
40
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
40
10.1%
+3.4pp
Irish
2021 count
39
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
39
9.8%
-2.0pp
Italian
2021 count
34
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
34
8.6%
-1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
18
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
18
4.5%
-3.0pp
German
2021 count
17
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17
4.3%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
13
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
13
3.3%
+1.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+14
+1.5pp
English
-28
-9.4pp
Maltese
+15
+3.4pp
Irish
-5
-2.0pp
Italian
-4
-1.6pp
Scottish
-10
-3.0pp
German
+1
0.0pp
Dutch
+5
+1.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Merrimu. 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 | 145 | 36.5% | 39.2% | 131 | 35.0% | 39.9% | +14 | +1.5pp |
| English | 124 | 31.2% | 38.8% | 152 | 40.6% | 39.4% | -28 | -9.4pp |
| Maltese | 40 | 10.1% | 3.9% | 25 | 6.7% | 3.4% | +15 | +3.4pp |
| Irish | 39 | 9.8% | 13.2% | 44 | 11.8% | 14.5% | -5 | -2.0pp |
| Italian | 34 | 8.6% | 3.9% | 38 | 10.2% | 3.8% | -4 | -1.6pp |
| Scottish | 18 | 4.5% | 11.4% | 28 | 7.5% | 11.2% | -10 | -3.0pp |
| German | 17 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 16 | 4.3% | 4.5% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 13 | 3.3% | 2.3% | 8 | 2.1% | 2.1% | +5 | +1.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).