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 were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Whittlesea - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Whittlesea in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whittlesea (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whittlesea, with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).
Australian
2021 count
2,519
% of total
41.2%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
2,519
41.2%
-2.2pp
English
2021 count
2,480
% of total
40.5%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
2,480
40.5%
+1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
704
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
704
11.5%
+0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
629
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
629
10.3%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
561
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
561
9.2%
+2.6pp
German
2021 count
219
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
219
3.6%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
112
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
112
1.8%
+0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
111
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
111
1.8%
+0.1pp
Maltese
2021 count
101
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
101
1.7%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
79
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
79
1.3%
+1.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+85
-2.2pp
English
+281
+1.3pp
Irish
+75
+0.3pp
Scottish
+87
+0.6pp
Italian
+189
+2.6pp
German
+21
+0.1pp
Dutch
+14
+0.1pp
Greek
+17
+0.1pp
Maltese
+3
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+65
+1.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Whittlesea. 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 | 2,519 | 41.2% | 19.7% | 2,434 | 43.4% | 20.0% | +85 | -2.2pp |
| English | 2,480 | 40.5% | 17.6% | 2,199 | 39.2% | 18.7% | +281 | +1.3pp |
| Irish | 704 | 11.5% | 4.9% | 629 | 11.2% | 5.6% | +75 | +0.3pp |
| Scottish | 629 | 10.3% | 4.0% | 542 | 9.7% | 4.3% | +87 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 561 | 9.2% | 12.2% | 372 | 6.6% | 13.2% | +189 | +2.6pp |
| German | 219 | 3.6% | 1.7% | 198 | 3.5% | 1.8% | +21 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 112 | 1.8% | 0.7% | 98 | 1.7% | 0.6% | +14 | +0.1pp |
| Greek | 111 | 1.8% | 5.3% | 94 | 1.7% | 5.9% | +17 | +0.1pp |
| Maltese | 101 | 1.7% | 1.8% | 98 | 1.7% | 2.0% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 79 | 1.3% | 1.0% | 14 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +65 | +1.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).