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 Northern Grampians (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Northern Grampians (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Northern Grampians (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northern Grampians (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
4,985
% of total
41.7%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
4,985
41.7%
-1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
4,960
% of total
41.5%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
4,960
41.5%
-1.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,391
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,391
11.6%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
1,283
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,283
10.7%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
553
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
553
4.6%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
208
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
208
1.7%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
191
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
191
1.6%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
177
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
177
1.5%
+1.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
158
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
158
1.3%
+0.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
121
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
121
1.0%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+48
-1.5pp
Australian
+62
-1.3pp
Scottish
+107
+0.4pp
Irish
+67
+0.1pp
German
-7
-0.3pp
Italian
+55
+0.4pp
Dutch
+9
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+161
+1.4pp
Filipino
+100
+0.8pp
Chinese
+48
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Northern Grampians (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 | 4,985 | 41.7% | 40.6% | 4,937 | 43.2% | 40.1% | +48 | -1.5pp |
| Australian | 4,960 | 41.5% | 39.2% | 4,898 | 42.8% | 40.0% | +62 | -1.3pp |
| Scottish | 1,391 | 11.6% | 11.7% | 1,284 | 11.2% | 11.3% | +107 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 1,283 | 10.7% | 12.9% | 1,216 | 10.6% | 13.0% | +67 | +0.1pp |
| German | 553 | 4.6% | 4.6% | 560 | 4.9% | 4.6% | -7 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 208 | 1.7% | 3.9% | 153 | 1.3% | 3.7% | +55 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 191 | 1.6% | 2.3% | 182 | 1.6% | 2.2% | +9 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 177 | 1.5% | 1.9% | 16 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +161 | +1.4pp |
| Filipino | 158 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 58 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +100 | +0.8pp |
| Chinese | 121 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 73 | 0.6% | 1.0% | +48 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).