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 Pentland Hills were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Pentland Hills - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Pentland Hills in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moorabool (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Pentland Hills, with comparison markers for Moorabool (S).
English
2021 count
68
% of total
43.0%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
68
43.0%
+4.6pp
Australian
2021 count
55
% of total
34.8%
Change from 2016
-7.4pp
55
34.8%
-7.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
25
% of total
15.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
25
15.8%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
15
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
15
9.5%
-0.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
11
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
11
7.0%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-3
+4.6pp
Australian
-23
-7.4pp
Scottish
-5
-0.4pp
Irish
-3
-0.2pp
Maltese
-2
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Pentland Hills. 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 | 68 | 43.0% | 38.8% | 71 | 38.4% | 39.4% | -3 | +4.6pp |
| Australian | 55 | 34.8% | 39.2% | 78 | 42.2% | 39.9% | -23 | -7.4pp |
| Scottish | 25 | 15.8% | 11.4% | 30 | 16.2% | 11.2% | -5 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 15 | 9.5% | 13.2% | 18 | 9.7% | 14.5% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| Maltese | 11 | 7.0% | 3.9% | 13 | 7.0% | 3.4% | -2 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).