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 Whitehorse (C) were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Whitehorse (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Whitehorse (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whitehorse (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Chinese
2021 count
44,440
% of total
13.1%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
44,440
13.1%
+2.0pp
English
2021 count
40,997
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
40,997
12.1%
-1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
35,997
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
35,997
10.6%
-0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
14,152
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
14,152
4.2%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
12,679
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
12,679
3.7%
-0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
8,009
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
8,009
2.4%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
7,575
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
7,575
2.2%
-0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
5,989
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
5,989
1.8%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
4,678
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
4,678
1.4%
-0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
2,828
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,828
0.8%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+8,421
+2.0pp
English
-2,000
-1.2pp
Australian
-1,428
-0.9pp
Irish
-1,579
-0.7pp
Scottish
-137
-0.3pp
Indian
+1,590
+0.4pp
Italian
+215
-0.1pp
Greek
-66
-0.1pp
German
-138
-0.1pp
Vietnamese
+387
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Whitehorse (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Chinese | 44,440 | 13.1% | 4.2% | 36,019 | 11.1% | 4.0% | +8,421 | +2.0pp |
| English | 40,997 | 12.1% | 12.8% | 42,997 | 13.3% | 13.3% | -2,000 | -1.2pp |
| Australian | 35,997 | 10.6% | 11.7% | 37,425 | 11.5% | 12.0% | -1,428 | -0.9pp |
| Irish | 14,152 | 4.2% | 4.2% | 15,731 | 4.9% | 4.6% | -1,579 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 12,679 | 3.7% | 3.6% | 12,816 | 4.0% | 3.7% | -137 | -0.3pp |
| Indian | 8,009 | 2.4% | 2.7% | 6,419 | 2.0% | 2.2% | +1,590 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 7,575 | 2.2% | 3.3% | 7,360 | 2.3% | 3.3% | +215 | -0.1pp |
| Greek | 5,989 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 6,055 | 1.9% | 1.8% | -66 | -0.1pp |
| German | 4,678 | 1.4% | 1.4% | 4,816 | 1.5% | 1.5% | -138 | -0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 2,828 | 0.8% | 1.2% | 2,441 | 0.8% | 1.2% | +387 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 338,656 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 324,154 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +14,502 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).