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 Orana were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Orana - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Orana in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Albany (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Orana, with comparison markers for Albany (C).
English
2021 count
927
% of total
45.6%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
927
45.6%
-1.8pp
Australian
2021 count
772
% of total
37.9%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
772
37.9%
-4.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
163
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
163
8.0%
-1.9pp
Irish
2021 count
138
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
138
6.8%
-1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
124
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+5.3pp
124
6.1%
+5.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
85
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
85
4.2%
+0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
71
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
71
3.5%
+0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
70
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
70
3.4%
+1.1pp
German
2021 count
64
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
64
3.1%
-0.6pp
Karen
2021 count
45
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-
45
2.2%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-45
-1.8pp
Australian
-93
-4.3pp
Scottish
-39
-1.9pp
Irish
-29
-1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+108
+5.3pp
Filipino
+10
+0.5pp
Dutch
+13
+0.7pp
Italian
+22
+1.1pp
German
-12
-0.6pp
Welsh
+13
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Orana. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Albany (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Albany (C)% | Count | % | Albany (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 927 | 45.6% | 47.1% | 972 | 47.4% | 47.3% | -45 | -1.8pp |
| Australian | 772 | 37.9% | 39.8% | 865 | 42.2% | 39.7% | -93 | -4.3pp |
| Scottish | 163 | 8.0% | 10.1% | 202 | 9.9% | 10.0% | -39 | -1.9pp |
| Irish | 138 | 6.8% | 8.6% | 167 | 8.1% | 8.8% | -29 | -1.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 124 | 6.1% | 3.2% | 16 | 0.8% | 0.4% | +108 | +5.3pp |
| Filipino | 85 | 4.2% | 1.9% | 75 | 3.7% | 1.6% | +10 | +0.5pp |
| Dutch | 71 | 3.5% | 3.7% | 58 | 2.8% | 3.6% | +13 | +0.7pp |
| Italian | 70 | 3.4% | 3.5% | 48 | 2.3% | 3.2% | +22 | +1.1pp |
| German | 64 | 3.1% | 3.8% | 76 | 3.7% | 3.7% | -12 | -0.6pp |
| Karen | 45 | 2.2% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).