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 (Vic.) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Fitzroy (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Fitzroy (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Yarra (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fitzroy (Vic.), with comparison markers for Yarra (C).
English
2021 count
3,266
% of total
31.3%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
3,266
31.3%
+3.7pp
Australian
2021 count
2,168
% of total
20.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,168
20.8%
-0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
1,626
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
1,626
15.6%
+2.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,170
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
1,170
11.2%
+1.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
685
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
685
6.6%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
606
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
606
5.8%
+1.5pp
German
2021 count
410
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
410
3.9%
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
392
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
392
3.8%
-0.2pp
Greek
2021 count
275
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
275
2.6%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
180
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
180
1.7%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+382
+3.7pp
Australian
-40
-0.3pp
Irish
+282
+2.7pp
Scottish
+177
+1.7pp
Chinese
+1
+0.1pp
Italian
+158
+1.5pp
German
+13
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
-29
-0.2pp
Greek
+12
+0.1pp
Dutch
+40
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Fitzroy (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 | 3,266 | 31.3% | 33.9% | 2,884 | 27.6% | 31.7% | +382 | +3.7pp |
| Australian | 2,168 | 20.8% | 24.8% | 2,208 | 21.1% | 23.2% | -40 | -0.3pp |
| Irish | 1,626 | 15.6% | 15.8% | 1,344 | 12.9% | 15.1% | +282 | +2.7pp |
| Scottish | 1,170 | 11.2% | 12.0% | 993 | 9.5% | 10.7% | +177 | +1.7pp |
| Chinese | 685 | 6.6% | 6.1% | 684 | 6.5% | 6.3% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 606 | 5.8% | 6.6% | 448 | 4.3% | 6.0% | +158 | +1.5pp |
| German | 410 | 3.9% | 4.2% | 397 | 3.8% | 4.0% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 392 | 3.8% | 3.4% | 421 | 4.0% | 3.9% | -29 | -0.2pp |
| Greek | 275 | 2.6% | 3.8% | 263 | 2.5% | 3.8% | +12 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 180 | 1.7% | 1.8% | 140 | 1.3% | 1.5% | +40 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).