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 Mount Alexander (S) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mount Alexander (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mount Alexander (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Alexander (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
8,863
% of total
21.9%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
8,863
21.9%
+1.1pp
Australian
2021 count
7,301
% of total
18.1%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
7,301
18.1%
-0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
3,269
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
3,269
8.1%
+0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,894
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
2,894
7.2%
+0.9pp
German
2021 count
995
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
995
2.5%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
639
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
639
1.6%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
401
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
401
1.0%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
222
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
222
0.5%
+0.4pp
Welsh
2021 count
201
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
201
0.5%
+0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
150
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
150
0.4%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,057
+1.1pp
Australian
+228
-0.8pp
Irish
+577
+0.9pp
Scottish
+515
+0.9pp
German
+188
+0.3pp
Italian
+112
+0.2pp
Dutch
+92
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+200
+0.4pp
Welsh
+33
+0.1pp
Polish
+33
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mount Alexander (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 8,863 | 21.9% | 20.3% | 7,806 | 20.8% | 20.0% | +1,057 | +1.1pp |
| Australian | 7,301 | 18.1% | 19.6% | 7,073 | 18.9% | 20.0% | +228 | -0.8pp |
| Irish | 3,269 | 8.1% | 6.4% | 2,692 | 7.2% | 6.5% | +577 | +0.9pp |
| Scottish | 2,894 | 7.2% | 5.8% | 2,379 | 6.3% | 5.7% | +515 | +0.9pp |
| German | 995 | 2.5% | 2.3% | 807 | 2.2% | 2.3% | +188 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 639 | 1.6% | 1.9% | 527 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +112 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 401 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 309 | 0.8% | 1.1% | +92 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 222 | 0.5% | 1.0% | 22 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +200 | +0.4pp |
| Welsh | 201 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 168 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +33 | +0.1pp |
| Polish | 150 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 117 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +33 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 40,444 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 37,471 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,973 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).