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 Toorak were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Toorak - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Toorak in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Stonnington (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Toorak, with comparison markers for Stonnington (C).
English
2021 count
4,097
% of total
32.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
4,097
32.0%
+0.8pp
Australian
2021 count
2,842
% of total
22.2%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
2,842
22.2%
-2.2pp
Irish
2021 count
1,421
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,421
11.1%
-0.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,419
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
1,419
11.1%
+2.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,360
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,360
10.6%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
675
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
675
5.3%
+0.5pp
Polish
2021 count
553
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
553
4.3%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
461
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
461
3.6%
+0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
414
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
414
3.2%
+0.5pp
Indian
2021 count
306
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
306
2.4%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+72
+0.8pp
Australian
-305
-2.2pp
Irish
-131
-0.9pp
Chinese
+311
+2.5pp
Scottish
-11
0.0pp
Italian
+54
+0.5pp
Polish
-43
-0.3pp
German
+8
+0.1pp
Greek
+61
+0.5pp
Indian
-14
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Toorak. 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 | 4,097 | 32.0% | 32.4% | 4,025 | 31.2% | 31.3% | +72 | +0.8pp |
| Australian | 2,842 | 22.2% | 24.3% | 3,147 | 24.4% | 23.7% | -305 | -2.2pp |
| Irish | 1,421 | 11.1% | 12.7% | 1,552 | 12.0% | 12.7% | -131 | -0.9pp |
| Chinese | 1,419 | 11.1% | 9.0% | 1,108 | 8.6% | 8.8% | +311 | +2.5pp |
| Scottish | 1,360 | 10.6% | 10.6% | 1,371 | 10.6% | 10.1% | -11 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 675 | 5.3% | 5.3% | 621 | 4.8% | 4.7% | +54 | +0.5pp |
| Polish | 553 | 4.3% | 2.3% | 596 | 4.6% | 2.3% | -43 | -0.3pp |
| German | 461 | 3.6% | 3.9% | 453 | 3.5% | 3.6% | +8 | +0.1pp |
| Greek | 414 | 3.2% | 5.1% | 353 | 2.7% | 4.9% | +61 | +0.5pp |
| Indian | 306 | 2.4% | 3.1% | 320 | 2.5% | 3.3% | -14 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).