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 Pascoe Vale South were English, Italian and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Pascoe Vale South - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Pascoe Vale South in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moreland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Pascoe Vale South, with comparison markers for Moreland (C).
English
2021 count
2,467
% of total
23.4%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
2,467
23.4%
+1.9pp
Italian
2021 count
2,448
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,448
23.2%
-0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
2,443
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,443
23.2%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
1,199
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,199
11.4%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,195
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,195
11.3%
+0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
758
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
758
7.2%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
302
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
302
2.9%
+0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
292
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
292
2.8%
+0.3pp
Maltese
2021 count
254
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
254
2.4%
0.0pp
Lebanese
2021 count
249
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
249
2.4%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+303
+1.9pp
Italian
+93
-0.2pp
Australian
+107
0.0pp
Greek
+40
-0.1pp
Irish
+86
+0.3pp
Scottish
+85
+0.5pp
German
+75
+0.6pp
Chinese
+39
+0.3pp
Maltese
+14
0.0pp
Lebanese
+37
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Pascoe Vale South. 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 | 2,467 | 23.4% | 23.4% | 2,164 | 21.5% | 22.0% | +303 | +1.9pp |
| Italian | 2,448 | 23.2% | 15.0% | 2,355 | 23.4% | 15.6% | +93 | -0.2pp |
| Australian | 2,443 | 23.2% | 21.4% | 2,336 | 23.2% | 20.0% | +107 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 1,199 | 11.4% | 5.9% | 1,159 | 11.5% | 6.1% | +40 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 1,195 | 11.3% | 10.5% | 1,109 | 11.0% | 10.3% | +86 | +0.3pp |
| Scottish | 758 | 7.2% | 7.6% | 673 | 6.7% | 6.8% | +85 | +0.5pp |
| German | 302 | 2.9% | 3.0% | 227 | 2.3% | 2.7% | +75 | +0.6pp |
| Chinese | 292 | 2.8% | 3.8% | 253 | 2.5% | 3.8% | +39 | +0.3pp |
| Maltese | 254 | 2.4% | 1.7% | 240 | 2.4% | 1.7% | +14 | 0.0pp |
| Lebanese | 249 | 2.4% | 3.8% | 212 | 2.1% | 4.3% | +37 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).