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 Oak Park were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Oak Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Oak Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moreland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Oak Park, with comparison markers for Moreland (C).
English
2021 count
1,593
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
-12.6pp
1,593
11.9%
-12.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,412
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
-11.2pp
1,412
10.5%
-11.2pp
Italian
2021 count
862
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
862
6.4%
+4.8pp
Irish
2021 count
609
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
609
4.5%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
437
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
437
3.3%
-1.6pp
Indian
2021 count
375
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-
375
2.8%
-
Chinese
2021 count
343
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-
343
2.6%
-
Greek
2021 count
231
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-
231
1.7%
-
Nepalese
2021 count
210
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
210
1.6%
-
Turkish
2021 count
207
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
207
1.5%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,548
-12.6pp
Australian
+1,372
-11.2pp
Italian
+859
+4.8pp
Irish
+599
-0.9pp
Scottish
+428
-1.6pp
German
+189
-1.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Oak Park. 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 | |
| English | 1,593 | 11.9% | 11.7% | 45 | 24.5% | 11.0% | +1,548 | -12.6pp |
| Australian | 1,412 | 10.5% | 10.7% | 40 | 21.7% | 10.0% | +1,372 | -11.2pp |
| Italian | 862 | 6.4% | 7.5% | 3 | 1.6% | 7.8% | +859 | +4.8pp |
| Irish | 609 | 4.5% | 5.2% | 10 | 5.4% | 5.2% | +599 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 437 | 3.3% | 3.8% | 9 | 4.9% | 3.4% | +428 | -1.6pp |
| Indian | 375 | 2.8% | 1.6% | - | - | 1.7% | - | - |
| Chinese | 343 | 2.6% | 1.9% | - | - | 1.9% | - | - |
| Greek | 231 | 1.7% | 2.9% | - | - | 3.0% | - | - |
| Nepalese | 210 | 1.6% | 1.1% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Turkish | 207 | 1.5% | 1.1% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Total | 13,430 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 184 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +13,246 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).