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 Carlton North (part) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Carlton North (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Carlton North (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Yarra (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Carlton North (part), with comparison markers for Yarra (C).
English
2021 count
2,284
% of total
37.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
2,284
37.0%
+1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,638
% of total
26.5%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
1,638
26.5%
+1.6pp
Irish
2021 count
1,150
% of total
18.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,150
18.6%
+0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
818
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
818
13.2%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
691
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
691
11.2%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
280
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
280
4.5%
-0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
227
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
227
3.7%
+0.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
192
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
192
3.1%
-0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
123
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
123
2.0%
+0.2pp
French
2021 count
87
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
87
1.4%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+19
+1.0pp
Australian
+67
+1.6pp
Irish
0
+0.3pp
Scottish
-29
-0.2pp
Italian
-9
+0.1pp
German
-12
-0.1pp
Greek
+39
+0.7pp
Chinese
-60
-0.9pp
Dutch
+12
+0.2pp
French
+3
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Carlton North (part). 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 | 2,284 | 37.0% | 33.9% | 2,265 | 36.0% | 31.7% | +19 | +1.0pp |
| Australian | 1,638 | 26.5% | 24.8% | 1,571 | 24.9% | 23.2% | +67 | +1.6pp |
| Irish | 1,150 | 18.6% | 15.8% | 1,150 | 18.3% | 15.1% | 0 | +0.3pp |
| Scottish | 818 | 13.2% | 12.0% | 847 | 13.4% | 10.7% | -29 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 691 | 11.2% | 6.6% | 700 | 11.1% | 6.0% | -9 | +0.1pp |
| German | 280 | 4.5% | 4.2% | 292 | 4.6% | 4.0% | -12 | -0.1pp |
| Greek | 227 | 3.7% | 3.8% | 188 | 3.0% | 3.8% | +39 | +0.7pp |
| Chinese | 192 | 3.1% | 6.1% | 252 | 4.0% | 6.3% | -60 | -0.9pp |
| Dutch | 123 | 2.0% | 1.8% | 111 | 1.8% | 1.5% | +12 | +0.2pp |
| French | 87 | 1.4% | 1.1% | 84 | 1.3% | 1.1% | +3 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).