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 Epping (Vic.) were Australian, English and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Epping (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Epping (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whittlesea (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Epping (Vic.), with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).
Australian
2021 count
5,397
% of total
16.1%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
5,397
16.1%
-1.0pp
English
2021 count
4,775
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
4,775
14.3%
-0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
3,857
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
3,857
11.5%
-0.6pp
Indian
2021 count
2,920
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
2,920
8.7%
-1.9pp
Macedonian
2021 count
2,346
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,346
7.0%
-0.3pp
Greek
2021 count
1,680
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,680
5.0%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,374
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,374
4.1%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,199
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,199
3.6%
-0.6pp
Lebanese
2021 count
967
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
967
2.9%
+0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
931
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
931
2.8%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-144
-1.0pp
English
-119
-0.8pp
Italian
-72
-0.6pp
Indian
-500
-1.9pp
Macedonian
-10
-0.3pp
Greek
+67
0.0pp
Chinese
+93
+0.1pp
Irish
-156
-0.6pp
Lebanese
+184
+0.5pp
Scottish
-140
-0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Epping (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Whittlesea (C)% | Count | % | Whittlesea (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 5,397 | 16.1% | 19.7% | 5,541 | 17.1% | 20.0% | -144 | -1.0pp |
| English | 4,775 | 14.3% | 17.6% | 4,894 | 15.1% | 18.7% | -119 | -0.8pp |
| Italian | 3,857 | 11.5% | 12.2% | 3,929 | 12.1% | 13.2% | -72 | -0.6pp |
| Indian | 2,920 | 8.7% | 7.9% | 3,420 | 10.6% | 6.7% | -500 | -1.9pp |
| Macedonian | 2,346 | 7.0% | 6.1% | 2,356 | 7.3% | 6.6% | -10 | -0.3pp |
| Greek | 1,680 | 5.0% | 5.3% | 1,613 | 5.0% | 5.9% | +67 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 1,374 | 4.1% | 4.3% | 1,281 | 4.0% | 4.4% | +93 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 1,199 | 3.6% | 4.9% | 1,355 | 4.2% | 5.6% | -156 | -0.6pp |
| Lebanese | 967 | 2.9% | 2.2% | 783 | 2.4% | 2.4% | +184 | +0.5pp |
| Scottish | 931 | 2.8% | 4.0% | 1,071 | 3.3% | 4.3% | -140 | -0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).