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 Point Cook were Indian, English and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Point Cook - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Point Cook in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wyndham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Point Cook, with comparison markers for Wyndham (C).
Indian
2021 count
11,599
% of total
17.4%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
11,599
17.4%
+4.8pp
English
2021 count
10,762
% of total
16.1%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
10,762
16.1%
-3.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
9,567
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
9,567
14.3%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
9,248
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
9,248
13.8%
-3.0pp
Irish
2021 count
2,743
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
2,743
4.1%
-2.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,549
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
2,549
3.8%
-1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
2,437
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
2,437
3.6%
-1.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
2,033
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,033
3.0%
+0.1pp
Maltese
2021 count
1,277
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,277
1.9%
-0.5pp
Pakistani
2021 count
1,261
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,261
1.9%
+1.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Indian
+5,286
+4.8pp
English
+797
-3.9pp
Chinese
+2,400
-0.1pp
Australian
+865
-3.0pp
Irish
-288
-2.0pp
Scottish
+139
-1.0pp
Italian
+132
-1.0pp
Filipino
+561
+0.1pp
Maltese
+91
-0.5pp
Pakistani
+857
+1.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Point Cook. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wyndham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wyndham (C)% | Count | % | Wyndham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Indian | 11,599 | 17.4% | 17.4% | 6,313 | 12.6% | 12.6% | +5,286 | +4.8pp |
| English | 10,762 | 16.1% | 16.8% | 9,965 | 20.0% | 21.3% | +797 | -3.9pp |
| Chinese | 9,567 | 14.3% | 6.3% | 7,167 | 14.4% | 6.3% | +2,400 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 9,248 | 13.8% | 16.5% | 8,383 | 16.8% | 20.3% | +865 | -3.0pp |
| Irish | 2,743 | 4.1% | 4.2% | 3,031 | 6.1% | 6.2% | -288 | -2.0pp |
| Scottish | 2,549 | 3.8% | 4.0% | 2,410 | 4.8% | 5.4% | +139 | -1.0pp |
| Italian | 2,437 | 3.6% | 3.9% | 2,305 | 4.6% | 5.1% | +132 | -1.0pp |
| Filipino | 2,033 | 3.0% | 3.6% | 1,472 | 2.9% | 3.5% | +561 | +0.1pp |
| Maltese | 1,277 | 1.9% | 2.0% | 1,186 | 2.4% | 2.7% | +91 | -0.5pp |
| Pakistani | 1,261 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 404 | 0.8% | 1.1% | +857 | +1.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).