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 Werribee South were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Werribee South - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Werribee South in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wyndham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Werribee South, with comparison markers for Wyndham (C).
English
2021 count
587
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
-5.9pp
587
12.3%
-5.9pp
Australian
2021 count
556
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
-6.5pp
556
11.7%
-6.5pp
Italian
2021 count
365
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
+5.6pp
365
7.7%
+5.6pp
Greek
2021 count
177
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
177
3.7%
+3.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
174
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
174
3.7%
-3.8pp
Irish
2021 count
168
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
168
3.5%
-4.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
107
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-
107
2.3%
-
German
2021 count
74
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
74
1.6%
-1.5pp
Indian
2021 count
71
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
71
1.5%
-
Chinese
2021 count
50
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
50
1.1%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+500
-5.9pp
Australian
+469
-6.5pp
Italian
+355
+5.6pp
Greek
+174
+3.1pp
Scottish
+138
-3.8pp
Irish
+131
-4.2pp
German
+59
-1.5pp
Chinese
+46
+0.3pp
Dutch
+22
-2.1pp
Polish
+17
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Werribee South. 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 | |
| English | 587 | 12.3% | 8.4% | 87 | 18.2% | 10.7% | +500 | -5.9pp |
| Australian | 556 | 11.7% | 8.3% | 87 | 18.2% | 10.2% | +469 | -6.5pp |
| Italian | 365 | 7.7% | 2.0% | 10 | 2.1% | 2.5% | +355 | +5.6pp |
| Greek | 177 | 3.7% | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 0.8% | +174 | +3.1pp |
| Scottish | 174 | 3.7% | 2.0% | 36 | 7.5% | 2.7% | +138 | -3.8pp |
| Irish | 168 | 3.5% | 2.1% | 37 | 7.7% | 3.1% | +131 | -4.2pp |
| Maltese | 107 | 2.3% | 1.0% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| German | 74 | 1.6% | 0.9% | 15 | 3.1% | 1.2% | +59 | -1.5pp |
| Indian | 71 | 1.5% | 8.7% | - | - | 6.3% | - | - |
| Chinese | 50 | 1.1% | 3.2% | 4 | 0.8% | 3.1% | +46 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 4,754 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 479 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,275 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).