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 Dalwood (Ballina - NSW) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Dalwood (Ballina - NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Dalwood (Ballina - NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Ballina (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dalwood (Ballina - NSW), with comparison markers for Ballina (A).
English
2021 count
116
% of total
53.2%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
116
53.2%
+2.3pp
Australian
2021 count
85
% of total
39.0%
Change from 2016
-8.0pp
85
39.0%
-8.0pp
Irish
2021 count
38
% of total
17.4%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
38
17.4%
+2.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
28
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
28
12.8%
+3.8pp
German
2021 count
11
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
11
5.0%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
10
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
10
4.6%
+2.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-3
+2.3pp
Australian
-25
-8.0pp
Irish
+2
+2.0pp
Scottish
+7
+3.8pp
German
0
+0.3pp
Italian
+6
+2.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Dalwood (Ballina - NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 116 | 53.2% | 44.4% | 119 | 50.9% | 43.9% | -3 | +2.3pp |
| Australian | 85 | 39.0% | 39.3% | 110 | 47.0% | 40.1% | -25 | -8.0pp |
| Irish | 38 | 17.4% | 14.4% | 36 | 15.4% | 14.6% | +2 | +2.0pp |
| Scottish | 28 | 12.8% | 12.6% | 21 | 9.0% | 12.1% | +7 | +3.8pp |
| German | 11 | 5.0% | 4.6% | 11 | 4.7% | 4.4% | 0 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 10 | 4.6% | 3.3% | 4 | 1.7% | 2.9% | +6 | +2.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).