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 Unincorporated Vic were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Unincorporated Vic - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Unincorporated Vic in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Unincorporated Vic, with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
316
% of total
16.9%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
316
16.9%
+1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
266
% of total
14.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
266
14.2%
+1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
94
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
94
5.0%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
63
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
63
3.4%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
41
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
41
2.2%
+0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
39
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
39
2.1%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
33
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
33
1.8%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
18
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
18
1.0%
+0.3pp
Hungarian
2021 count
11
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
11
0.6%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+34
+1.0pp
Australian
+35
+1.1pp
Irish
+12
+0.4pp
Scottish
-4
-0.4pp
German
+6
+0.2pp
Chinese
+9
+0.4pp
Italian
+1
0.0pp
Dutch
+5
+0.3pp
Hungarian
+6
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Unincorporated Vic. 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 | 316 | 16.9% | 20.3% | 282 | 15.9% | 20.0% | +34 | +1.0pp |
| Australian | 266 | 14.2% | 19.6% | 231 | 13.1% | 20.0% | +35 | +1.1pp |
| Irish | 94 | 5.0% | 6.4% | 82 | 4.6% | 6.5% | +12 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 63 | 3.4% | 5.8% | 67 | 3.8% | 5.7% | -4 | -0.4pp |
| German | 41 | 2.2% | 2.3% | 35 | 2.0% | 2.3% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Chinese | 39 | 2.1% | 0.6% | 30 | 1.7% | 0.5% | +9 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 33 | 1.8% | 1.9% | 32 | 1.8% | 1.8% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 18 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 13 | 0.7% | 1.1% | +5 | +0.3pp |
| Hungarian | 11 | 0.6% | 0.1% | 5 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +6 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 1,872 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,770 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +102 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).