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 Yarriambiack (S) were Australian, English and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Yarriambiack (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Yarriambiack (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Yarriambiack (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..

Yarriambiack (S)
Regional Vic.

Australian

2021 count

2,878

% of total

22.0%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

English

2021 count

2,580

% of total

19.7%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Scottish

2021 count

728

% of total

5.6%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Irish

2021 count

689

% of total

5.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

German

2021 count

610

% of total

4.7%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

104

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

Italian

2021 count

82

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Indian

2021 count

60

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Dutch

2021 count

51

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Filipino

2021 count

34

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Data table

Ancestry for Yarriambiack (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..

Ancestry for Yarriambiack (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Ancestry for Yarriambiack (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Vic.%Count%Regional Vic.%Countpp
Australian2,87822.0%19.6%2,91721.9%20.0%-39+0.1pp
English2,58019.7%20.3%2,54819.1%20.0%+32+0.6pp
Scottish7285.6%5.8%6785.1%5.7%+50+0.5pp
Irish6895.3%6.4%7125.3%6.5%-230.0pp
German6104.7%2.3%6775.1%2.3%-67-0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal1040.8%1.0%90.1%0.1%+95+0.7pp
Italian820.6%1.9%920.7%1.8%-10-0.1pp
Indian600.5%0.5%440.3%0.4%+16+0.2pp
Dutch510.4%1.1%620.5%1.1%-11-0.1pp
Filipino340.3%0.4%130.1%0.3%+21+0.2pp
Total13,072100.0%100.0%13,334100.0%100.0%-2620.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).