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 Collingwood (Vic.) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Collingwood (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Collingwood (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Yarra (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Collingwood (Vic.), with comparison markers for Yarra (C).
English
2021 count
2,749
% of total
15.0%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
2,749
15.0%
-4.3pp
Australian
2021 count
1,931
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
-14.2pp
1,931
10.5%
-14.2pp
Irish
2021 count
1,285
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,285
7.0%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
996
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
996
5.4%
-1.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
642
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-
642
3.5%
-
Italian
2021 count
489
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
489
2.7%
-1.0pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
397
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-
397
2.2%
-
German
2021 count
373
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
373
2.0%
+0.7pp
Greek
2021 count
258
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
258
1.4%
+1.1pp
Somali
2021 count
186
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
186
1.0%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,519
-4.3pp
Australian
+1,637
-14.2pp
Irish
+1,199
-0.2pp
Scottish
+914
-1.5pp
Italian
+445
-1.0pp
German
+358
+0.7pp
Greek
+255
+1.1pp
Dutch
+159
+0.1pp
Polish
+126
+0.4pp
New Zealander
+99
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Collingwood (Vic.). 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 | 2,749 | 15.0% | 16.9% | 230 | 19.3% | 15.9% | +2,519 | -4.3pp |
| Australian | 1,931 | 10.5% | 12.4% | 294 | 24.7% | 11.6% | +1,637 | -14.2pp |
| Irish | 1,285 | 7.0% | 7.9% | 86 | 7.2% | 7.5% | +1,199 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 996 | 5.4% | 6.0% | 82 | 6.9% | 5.4% | +914 | -1.5pp |
| Chinese | 642 | 3.5% | 3.1% | - | - | 3.1% | - | - |
| Italian | 489 | 2.7% | 3.3% | 44 | 3.7% | 3.0% | +445 | -1.0pp |
| Vietnamese | 397 | 2.2% | 1.7% | - | - | 1.9% | - | - |
| German | 373 | 2.0% | 2.1% | 15 | 1.3% | 2.0% | +358 | +0.7pp |
| Greek | 258 | 1.4% | 1.9% | 3 | 0.3% | 1.9% | +255 | +1.1pp |
| Somali | 186 | 1.0% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Total | 18,324 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,191 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +17,133 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).