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 Avoca (Vic.) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Avoca (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Avoca (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Pyrenees (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Avoca (Vic.), with comparison markers for Pyrenees (S).
Australian
2021 count
597
% of total
44.0%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
597
44.0%
+2.2pp
English
2021 count
593
% of total
43.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
593
43.7%
-0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
173
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
173
12.8%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
151
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
151
11.1%
+2.8pp
Dutch
2021 count
34
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
34
2.5%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
34
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
34
2.5%
-0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
22
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
22
1.6%
-
Italian
2021 count
16
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
16
1.2%
+0.1pp
Hungarian
2021 count
11
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
11
0.8%
-
Polish
2021 count
11
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
11
0.8%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+98
+2.2pp
English
+68
-0.3pp
Scottish
+27
+0.6pp
Irish
+52
+2.8pp
Dutch
+6
+0.2pp
German
-3
-0.6pp
Italian
+3
+0.1pp
Polish
+6
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Avoca (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Pyrenees (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Pyrenees (S)% | Count | % | Pyrenees (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 597 | 44.0% | 39.7% | 499 | 41.8% | 39.0% | +98 | +2.2pp |
| English | 593 | 43.7% | 41.7% | 525 | 44.0% | 41.4% | +68 | -0.3pp |
| Scottish | 173 | 12.8% | 12.4% | 146 | 12.2% | 11.7% | +27 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 151 | 11.1% | 12.3% | 99 | 8.3% | 12.5% | +52 | +2.8pp |
| Dutch | 34 | 2.5% | 2.1% | 28 | 2.3% | 1.9% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| German | 34 | 2.5% | 3.4% | 37 | 3.1% | 3.0% | -3 | -0.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 22 | 1.6% | 1.4% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Italian | 16 | 1.2% | 1.9% | 13 | 1.1% | 1.8% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Hungarian | 11 | 0.8% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Polish | 11 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 5 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +6 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).