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 Wyndham Vale were Australian, English and Indian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wyndham Vale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wyndham Vale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wyndham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wyndham Vale, with comparison markers for Wyndham (C).
Australian
2021 count
4,781
% of total
23.3%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
4,781
23.3%
-5.0pp
English
2021 count
4,687
% of total
22.8%
Change from 2016
-5.4pp
4,687
22.8%
-5.4pp
Indian
2021 count
2,701
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
2,701
13.2%
+3.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,097
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
1,097
5.3%
-2.0pp
Irish
2021 count
1,087
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
1,087
5.3%
-2.5pp
Karen
2021 count
1,000
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
1,000
4.9%
+3.3pp
Italian
2021 count
653
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
653
3.2%
-0.6pp
Punjabi
2021 count
551
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
551
2.7%
+2.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
527
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
527
2.6%
-0.6pp
German
2021 count
473
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
473
2.3%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-803
-5.0pp
English
-874
-5.4pp
Indian
+695
+3.0pp
Scottish
-337
-2.0pp
Irish
-443
-2.5pp
Karen
+685
+3.3pp
Italian
-99
-0.6pp
Punjabi
+407
+2.0pp
Filipino
-112
-0.6pp
German
-128
-0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wyndham Vale. 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 | |
| Australian | 4,781 | 23.3% | 16.5% | 5,584 | 28.3% | 20.3% | -803 | -5.0pp |
| English | 4,687 | 22.8% | 16.8% | 5,561 | 28.2% | 21.3% | -874 | -5.4pp |
| Indian | 2,701 | 13.2% | 17.4% | 2,006 | 10.2% | 12.6% | +695 | +3.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,097 | 5.3% | 4.0% | 1,434 | 7.3% | 5.4% | -337 | -2.0pp |
| Irish | 1,087 | 5.3% | 4.2% | 1,530 | 7.8% | 6.2% | -443 | -2.5pp |
| Karen | 1,000 | 4.9% | 1.1% | 315 | 1.6% | 1.1% | +685 | +3.3pp |
| Italian | 653 | 3.2% | 3.9% | 752 | 3.8% | 5.1% | -99 | -0.6pp |
| Punjabi | 551 | 2.7% | 3.4% | 144 | 0.7% | 1.0% | +407 | +2.0pp |
| Filipino | 527 | 2.6% | 3.6% | 639 | 3.2% | 3.5% | -112 | -0.6pp |
| German | 473 | 2.3% | 1.8% | 601 | 3.0% | 2.3% | -128 | -0.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).