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 Whittlesea (C) were Australian, English and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Whittlesea (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Whittlesea (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whittlesea (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Australian
2021 count
45,207
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
45,207
9.9%
-0.1pp
English
2021 count
40,319
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
40,319
8.8%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
27,879
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
27,879
6.1%
-0.5pp
Indian
2021 count
18,025
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
18,025
3.9%
+0.6pp
Macedonian
2021 count
13,979
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
13,979
3.0%
-0.3pp
Greek
2021 count
12,211
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
12,211
2.7%
-0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
11,183
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
11,183
2.4%
-0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
9,907
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
9,907
2.2%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
9,196
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
9,196
2.0%
-0.2pp
Lebanese
2021 count
5,151
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
5,151
1.1%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+5,761
-0.1pp
English
+3,441
-0.5pp
Italian
+1,819
-0.5pp
Indian
+4,840
+0.6pp
Macedonian
+976
-0.3pp
Greek
+466
-0.3pp
Irish
+78
-0.4pp
Chinese
+1,238
0.0pp
Scottish
+620
-0.2pp
Lebanese
+385
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Whittlesea (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 | |
| Australian | 45,207 | 9.9% | 11.7% | 39,446 | 10.0% | 12.0% | +5,761 | -0.1pp |
| English | 40,319 | 8.8% | 12.8% | 36,878 | 9.3% | 13.3% | +3,441 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 27,879 | 6.1% | 3.3% | 26,060 | 6.6% | 3.3% | +1,819 | -0.5pp |
| Indian | 18,025 | 3.9% | 2.7% | 13,185 | 3.3% | 2.2% | +4,840 | +0.6pp |
| Macedonian | 13,979 | 3.0% | 0.5% | 13,003 | 3.3% | 0.5% | +976 | -0.3pp |
| Greek | 12,211 | 2.7% | 1.7% | 11,745 | 3.0% | 1.8% | +466 | -0.3pp |
| Irish | 11,183 | 2.4% | 4.2% | 11,105 | 2.8% | 4.6% | +78 | -0.4pp |
| Chinese | 9,907 | 2.2% | 4.2% | 8,669 | 2.2% | 4.0% | +1,238 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 9,196 | 2.0% | 3.6% | 8,576 | 2.2% | 3.7% | +620 | -0.2pp |
| Lebanese | 5,151 | 1.1% | 0.5% | 4,766 | 1.2% | 0.5% | +385 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 458,813 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 395,036 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +63,777 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).