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 Burnley were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Burnley - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Burnley in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Yarra (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Burnley, with comparison markers for Yarra (C).
English
2021 count
304
% of total
38.3%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
304
38.3%
-0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
250
% of total
31.5%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
250
31.5%
+4.2pp
Irish
2021 count
133
% of total
16.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
133
16.8%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
111
% of total
14.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
111
14.0%
+1.4pp
Italian
2021 count
48
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
48
6.0%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
34
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
34
4.3%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
31
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
31
3.9%
+0.9pp
German
2021 count
27
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
27
3.4%
-2.3pp
Polish
2021 count
15
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
15
1.9%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
12
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
12
1.5%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+4
-0.7pp
Australian
+40
+4.2pp
Irish
+3
-0.1pp
Scottish
+14
+1.4pp
Italian
+2
0.0pp
Greek
+2
+0.1pp
Chinese
+8
+0.9pp
German
-17
-2.3pp
Polish
+5
+0.6pp
Dutch
-2
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Burnley. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yarra (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Yarra (C)% | Count | % | Yarra (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 304 | 38.3% | 33.9% | 300 | 39.0% | 31.7% | +4 | -0.7pp |
| Australian | 250 | 31.5% | 24.8% | 210 | 27.3% | 23.2% | +40 | +4.2pp |
| Irish | 133 | 16.8% | 15.8% | 130 | 16.9% | 15.1% | +3 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 111 | 14.0% | 12.0% | 97 | 12.6% | 10.7% | +14 | +1.4pp |
| Italian | 48 | 6.0% | 6.6% | 46 | 6.0% | 6.0% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 34 | 4.3% | 3.8% | 32 | 4.2% | 3.8% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 31 | 3.9% | 6.1% | 23 | 3.0% | 6.3% | +8 | +0.9pp |
| German | 27 | 3.4% | 4.2% | 44 | 5.7% | 4.0% | -17 | -2.3pp |
| Polish | 15 | 1.9% | 1.3% | 10 | 1.3% | 1.1% | +5 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 12 | 1.5% | 1.8% | 14 | 1.8% | 1.5% | -2 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).