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 Fitzroy North (part) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Fitzroy North (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Fitzroy 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 Fitzroy North (part), with comparison markers for Yarra (C).
English
2021 count
4,709
% of total
18.4%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
4,709
18.4%
-2.1pp
Australian
2021 count
3,321
% of total
13.0%
Change from 2016
-6.6pp
3,321
13.0%
-6.6pp
Irish
2021 count
2,204
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
2,204
8.6%
+0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,788
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
1,788
7.0%
+1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
1,210
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
1,210
4.7%
+2.6pp
German
2021 count
634
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
634
2.5%
+0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
503
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
503
2.0%
+0.8pp
Greek
2021 count
475
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
475
1.9%
+1.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
264
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
264
1.0%
+0.2pp
French
2021 count
196
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
196
0.8%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,091
-2.1pp
Australian
+1,775
-6.6pp
Irish
+1,590
+0.8pp
Scottish
+1,342
+1.3pp
Italian
+1,048
+2.6pp
German
+453
+0.2pp
Chinese
+406
+0.8pp
Greek
+456
+1.7pp
Dutch
+197
+0.2pp
French
+175
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Fitzroy 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 | 4,709 | 18.4% | 16.9% | 1,618 | 20.5% | 15.9% | +3,091 | -2.1pp |
| Australian | 3,321 | 13.0% | 12.4% | 1,546 | 19.6% | 11.6% | +1,775 | -6.6pp |
| Irish | 2,204 | 8.6% | 7.9% | 614 | 7.8% | 7.5% | +1,590 | +0.8pp |
| Scottish | 1,788 | 7.0% | 6.0% | 446 | 5.7% | 5.4% | +1,342 | +1.3pp |
| Italian | 1,210 | 4.7% | 3.3% | 162 | 2.1% | 3.0% | +1,048 | +2.6pp |
| German | 634 | 2.5% | 2.1% | 181 | 2.3% | 2.0% | +453 | +0.2pp |
| Chinese | 503 | 2.0% | 3.1% | 97 | 1.2% | 3.1% | +406 | +0.8pp |
| Greek | 475 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 19 | 0.2% | 1.9% | +456 | +1.7pp |
| Dutch | 264 | 1.0% | 0.9% | 67 | 0.8% | 0.8% | +197 | +0.2pp |
| French | 196 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 21 | 0.3% | 0.6% | +175 | +0.5pp |
| Total | 25,557 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7,891 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +17,666 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).