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 Yan Yean were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Yan Yean - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Yan Yean in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whittlesea (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Yan Yean, with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).
Australian
2021 count
93
% of total
37.8%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
93
37.8%
+5.7pp
English
2021 count
87
% of total
35.4%
Change from 2016
-9.4pp
87
35.4%
-9.4pp
Irish
2021 count
34
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
34
13.8%
+2.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
26
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
26
10.6%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
20
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
20
8.1%
-3.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+12
+5.7pp
English
-26
-9.4pp
Irish
+6
+2.7pp
Scottish
-2
-0.5pp
Italian
-9
-3.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Yan Yean. 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 | 93 | 37.8% | 19.7% | 81 | 32.1% | 20.0% | +12 | +5.7pp |
| English | 87 | 35.4% | 17.6% | 113 | 44.8% | 18.7% | -26 | -9.4pp |
| Irish | 34 | 13.8% | 4.9% | 28 | 11.1% | 5.6% | +6 | +2.7pp |
| Scottish | 26 | 10.6% | 4.0% | 28 | 11.1% | 4.3% | -2 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 20 | 8.1% | 12.2% | 29 | 11.5% | 13.2% | -9 | -3.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).