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 Moyne (S) were Australian, English and Irish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Moyne (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Moyne (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Moyne (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..

Moyne (S)
Regional Vic.

Australian

2021 count

7,234

% of total

20.8%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

English

2021 count

7,065

% of total

20.4%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Irish

2021 count

3,436

% of total

9.9%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Scottish

2021 count

2,303

% of total

6.6%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

German

2021 count

769

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Dutch

2021 count

343

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

275

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

Italian

2021 count

193

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

New Zealander

2021 count

147

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Filipino

2021 count

137

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Data table

Ancestry for Moyne (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..

Ancestry for Moyne (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Ancestry for Moyne (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Vic.%Count%Regional Vic.%Countpp
Australian7,23420.8%19.6%7,00121.2%20.0%+233-0.4pp
English7,06520.4%20.3%6,35619.3%20.0%+709+1.1pp
Irish3,4369.9%6.4%3,1799.6%6.5%+257+0.3pp
Scottish2,3036.6%5.8%2,2046.7%5.7%+99-0.1pp
German7692.2%2.3%6562.0%2.3%+113+0.2pp
Dutch3431.0%1.1%3000.9%1.1%+43+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal2750.8%1.0%270.1%0.1%+248+0.7pp
Italian1930.6%1.9%1670.5%1.8%+26+0.1pp
New Zealander1470.4%0.3%1360.4%0.3%+110.0pp
Filipino1370.4%0.4%800.2%0.3%+57+0.2pp
Total34,710100.0%100.0%32,973100.0%100.0%+1,7370.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).