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 Kooyong were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Kooyong - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Kooyong in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Stonnington (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Kooyong, with comparison markers for Stonnington (C).
English
2021 count
340
% of total
40.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
340
40.4%
-0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
254
% of total
30.2%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
254
30.2%
+2.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
139
% of total
16.5%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
139
16.5%
+3.3pp
Irish
2021 count
134
% of total
15.9%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
134
15.9%
+1.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
83
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
83
9.9%
+0.8pp
German
2021 count
36
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
36
4.3%
+1.2pp
Italian
2021 count
35
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
35
4.2%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
17
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17
2.0%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
16
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
16
1.9%
+1.2pp
Russian
2021 count
16
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
16
1.9%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+7
-0.4pp
Australian
+29
+2.7pp
Scottish
+31
+3.3pp
Irish
+17
+1.6pp
Chinese
+9
+0.8pp
German
+11
+1.2pp
Italian
+1
0.0pp
Indian
+1
0.0pp
Greek
+10
+1.2pp
Russian
+5
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Kooyong. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Stonnington (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Stonnington (C)% | Count | % | Stonnington (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 340 | 40.4% | 32.4% | 333 | 40.8% | 31.3% | +7 | -0.4pp |
| Australian | 254 | 30.2% | 24.3% | 225 | 27.5% | 23.7% | +29 | +2.7pp |
| Scottish | 139 | 16.5% | 10.6% | 108 | 13.2% | 10.1% | +31 | +3.3pp |
| Irish | 134 | 15.9% | 12.7% | 117 | 14.3% | 12.7% | +17 | +1.6pp |
| Chinese | 83 | 9.9% | 9.0% | 74 | 9.1% | 8.8% | +9 | +0.8pp |
| German | 36 | 4.3% | 3.9% | 25 | 3.1% | 3.6% | +11 | +1.2pp |
| Italian | 35 | 4.2% | 5.3% | 34 | 4.2% | 4.7% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 17 | 2.0% | 3.1% | 16 | 2.0% | 3.3% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 16 | 1.9% | 5.1% | 6 | 0.7% | 4.9% | +10 | +1.2pp |
| Russian | 16 | 1.9% | 1.1% | 11 | 1.3% | 1.0% | +5 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).