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 Moreland (C) were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Moreland (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Moreland (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Moreland (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
English
2021 count
40,134
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
40,134
11.7%
+0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
36,699
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
36,699
10.7%
+0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
25,653
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
25,653
7.5%
-0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
17,959
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17,959
5.2%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
13,045
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
13,045
3.8%
+0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
10,058
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
10,058
2.9%
-0.1pp
Lebanese
2021 count
6,507
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
6,507
1.9%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
6,462
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
6,462
1.9%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
5,518
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
5,518
1.6%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
5,139
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
5,139
1.5%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+4,400
+0.7pp
Australian
+4,183
+0.7pp
Italian
+274
-0.3pp
Irish
+1,142
0.0pp
Scottish
+1,960
+0.4pp
Greek
+170
-0.1pp
Lebanese
-469
-0.2pp
Chinese
+218
0.0pp
Indian
-50
-0.1pp
German
+788
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Moreland (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| English | 40,134 | 11.7% | 12.8% | 35,734 | 11.0% | 13.3% | +4,400 | +0.7pp |
| Australian | 36,699 | 10.7% | 11.7% | 32,516 | 10.0% | 12.0% | +4,183 | +0.7pp |
| Italian | 25,653 | 7.5% | 3.3% | 25,379 | 7.8% | 3.3% | +274 | -0.3pp |
| Irish | 17,959 | 5.2% | 4.2% | 16,817 | 5.2% | 4.6% | +1,142 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 13,045 | 3.8% | 3.6% | 11,085 | 3.4% | 3.7% | +1,960 | +0.4pp |
| Greek | 10,058 | 2.9% | 1.7% | 9,888 | 3.0% | 1.8% | +170 | -0.1pp |
| Lebanese | 6,507 | 1.9% | 0.5% | 6,976 | 2.1% | 0.5% | -469 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 6,462 | 1.9% | 4.2% | 6,244 | 1.9% | 4.0% | +218 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 5,518 | 1.6% | 2.7% | 5,568 | 1.7% | 2.2% | -50 | -0.1pp |
| German | 5,139 | 1.5% | 1.4% | 4,351 | 1.3% | 1.5% | +788 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 342,681 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 325,091 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +17,590 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).