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 Milpara were English, Australian and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Milpara - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Milpara in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Albany (C) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Milpara, with comparison markers for Albany (C).

Milpara
Albany (C)

English

2021 count

485

% of total

50.9%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Australian

2021 count

412

% of total

43.2%

Change from 2016

+5.9pp

Scottish

2021 count

94

% of total

9.9%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Irish

2021 count

88

% of total

9.2%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Dutch

2021 count

63

% of total

6.6%

Change from 2016

-2.3pp

German

2021 count

36

% of total

3.8%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

Italian

2021 count

30

% of total

3.1%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

20

% of total

2.1%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

Polish

2021 count

13

% of total

1.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Welsh

2021 count

11

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Data table

Ancestry for Milpara. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Albany (C).

Ancestry for Milpara. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Albany (C).
Ancestry for Milpara. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Albany (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Albany (C)%Count%Albany (C)%Countpp
English48550.9%47.1%44452.2%47.3%+41-1.3pp
Australian41243.2%39.8%31737.3%39.7%+95+5.9pp
Scottish949.9%10.1%8510.0%10.0%+9-0.1pp
Irish889.2%8.6%8710.2%8.8%+1-1.0pp
Dutch636.6%3.7%768.9%3.6%-13-2.3pp
German363.8%3.8%263.1%3.7%+10+0.7pp
Italian303.1%3.5%222.6%3.2%+8+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal202.1%3.2%60.7%0.4%+14+1.4pp
Polish131.4%1.1%131.5%1.0%0-0.1pp
Welsh111.2%1.1%80.9%0.9%+3+0.3pp

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