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 South Morang were Australian, English and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
South Morang - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for South Morang in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whittlesea (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for South Morang, with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).
Australian
2021 count
5,540
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
5,540
11.1%
-2.2pp
English
2021 count
4,705
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
4,705
9.4%
-3.4pp
Italian
2021 count
4,131
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
4,131
8.3%
+5.2pp
Indian
2021 count
1,980
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-
1,980
4.0%
-
Macedonian
2021 count
1,821
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-
1,821
3.6%
-
Irish
2021 count
1,369
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-19.0pp
1,369
2.7%
-19.0pp
Greek
2021 count
1,283
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-
1,283
2.6%
-
Scottish
2021 count
1,102
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
1,102
2.2%
-2.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
840
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-
840
1.7%
-
Maltese
2021 count
649
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
649
1.3%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+5,510
-2.2pp
English
+4,676
-3.4pp
Italian
+4,124
+5.2pp
Irish
+1,320
-19.0pp
Scottish
+1,092
-2.2pp
German
+475
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for South Morang. 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 | 5,540 | 11.1% | 9.9% | 30 | 13.3% | 10.0% | +5,510 | -2.2pp |
| English | 4,705 | 9.4% | 8.8% | 29 | 12.8% | 9.3% | +4,676 | -3.4pp |
| Italian | 4,131 | 8.3% | 6.1% | 7 | 3.1% | 6.6% | +4,124 | +5.2pp |
| Indian | 1,980 | 4.0% | 3.9% | - | - | 3.3% | - | - |
| Macedonian | 1,821 | 3.6% | 3.0% | - | - | 3.3% | - | - |
| Irish | 1,369 | 2.7% | 2.4% | 49 | 21.7% | 2.8% | +1,320 | -19.0pp |
| Greek | 1,283 | 2.6% | 2.7% | - | - | 3.0% | - | - |
| Scottish | 1,102 | 2.2% | 2.0% | 10 | 4.4% | 2.2% | +1,092 | -2.2pp |
| Chinese | 840 | 1.7% | 2.2% | - | - | 2.2% | - | - |
| Maltese | 649 | 1.3% | 0.9% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Total | 49,975 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 226 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +49,749 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).