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 Balranald (A) were Australian, English and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Balranald (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Balranald (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Balranald (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Australian
2021 count
780
% of total
17.7%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
780
17.7%
-3.2pp
English
2021 count
721
% of total
16.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
721
16.4%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
266
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
266
6.0%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
214
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
214
4.9%
-1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
181
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
181
4.1%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
146
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
146
3.3%
+2.4pp
German
2021 count
67
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
67
1.5%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
39
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
39
0.9%
+0.8pp
Fijian
2021 count
27
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
27
0.6%
+0.2pp
Tongan
2021 count
27
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
27
0.6%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-171
-3.2pp
English
-32
-0.2pp
Italian
+3
+0.2pp
Irish
-85
-1.7pp
Scottish
+5
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+107
+2.4pp
German
-10
-0.2pp
Chinese
+33
+0.8pp
Fijian
+10
+0.2pp
Tongan
+15
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Balranald (A). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 780 | 17.7% | 20.1% | 951 | 20.9% | 21.3% | -171 | -3.2pp |
| English | 721 | 16.4% | 20.5% | 753 | 16.6% | 20.4% | -32 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 266 | 6.0% | 1.4% | 263 | 5.8% | 1.3% | +3 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 214 | 4.9% | 5.9% | 299 | 6.6% | 6.1% | -85 | -1.7pp |
| Scottish | 181 | 4.1% | 5.4% | 176 | 3.9% | 5.3% | +5 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 146 | 3.3% | 3.1% | 39 | 0.9% | 0.4% | +107 | +2.4pp |
| German | 67 | 1.5% | 2.1% | 77 | 1.7% | 2.1% | -10 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 39 | 0.9% | 0.5% | 6 | 0.1% | 0.5% | +33 | +0.8pp |
| Fijian | 27 | 0.6% | 0.1% | 17 | 0.4% | 0.0% | +10 | +0.2pp |
| Tongan | 27 | 0.6% | 0.1% | 12 | 0.3% | 0.0% | +15 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 4,402 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,549 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -147 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).