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 Rous Mill were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Rous Mill - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Rous Mill in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Ballina (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rous Mill, with comparison markers for Ballina (A).
English
2021 count
95
% of total
25.1%
Change from 2016
+6.7pp
95
25.1%
+6.7pp
Australian
2021 count
92
% of total
24.3%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
92
24.3%
+4.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
28
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
28
7.4%
+2.6pp
Irish
2021 count
25
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
25
6.6%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-1,948
+6.7pp
Australian
-2,070
+4.9pp
Scottish
-505
+2.6pp
Irish
-656
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Rous Mill. 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 | 95 | 25.1% | 22.2% | 2,043 | 18.4% | 21.9% | -1,948 | +6.7pp |
| Australian | 92 | 24.3% | 19.6% | 2,162 | 19.4% | 20.1% | -2,070 | +4.9pp |
| Scottish | 28 | 7.4% | 6.3% | 533 | 4.8% | 6.1% | -505 | +2.6pp |
| Irish | 25 | 6.6% | 7.2% | 681 | 6.1% | 7.3% | -656 | +0.5pp |
| Total | 379 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,129 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -10,750 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).