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 Fawkner (part) were Italian, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Fawkner (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Fawkner (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moreland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fawkner (part), with comparison markers for Moreland (C).
Italian
2021 count
2,640
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
-
2,640
9.3%
-
Australian
2021 count
1,921
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-5.1pp
1,921
6.7%
-5.1pp
English
2021 count
1,577
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-15.1pp
1,577
5.5%
-15.1pp
Pakistani
2021 count
1,398
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-
1,398
4.9%
-
Lebanese
2021 count
981
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-
981
3.4%
-
Indian
2021 count
929
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-
929
3.3%
-
Greek
2021 count
576
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-
576
2.0%
-
Nepalese
2021 count
486
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-
486
1.7%
-
Irish
2021 count
473
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-18.9pp
473
1.7%
-18.9pp
Turkish
2021 count
404
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
404
1.4%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+1,917
-5.1pp
English
+1,570
-15.1pp
Irish
+466
-18.9pp
Scottish
+369
-10.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Fawkner (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moreland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Moreland (C)% | Count | % | Moreland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Italian | 2,640 | 9.3% | 7.5% | - | - | 7.8% | - | - |
| Australian | 1,921 | 6.7% | 10.7% | 4 | 11.8% | 10.0% | +1,917 | -5.1pp |
| English | 1,577 | 5.5% | 11.7% | 7 | 20.6% | 11.0% | +1,570 | -15.1pp |
| Pakistani | 1,398 | 4.9% | 0.9% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Lebanese | 981 | 3.4% | 1.9% | - | - | 2.1% | - | - |
| Indian | 929 | 3.3% | 1.6% | - | - | 1.7% | - | - |
| Greek | 576 | 2.0% | 2.9% | - | - | 3.0% | - | - |
| Nepalese | 486 | 1.7% | 1.1% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Irish | 473 | 1.7% | 5.2% | 7 | 20.6% | 5.2% | +466 | -18.9pp |
| Turkish | 404 | 1.4% | 1.1% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Total | 28,518 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 34 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +28,484 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).