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 Swanpool were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Swanpool - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Swanpool in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Benalla (RC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Swanpool, with comparison markers for Benalla (RC).
English
2021 count
102
% of total
22.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
102
22.6%
-0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
92
% of total
20.4%
Change from 2016
-16.8pp
92
20.4%
-16.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
47
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
47
10.4%
-1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
31
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-
31
6.9%
-
Italian
2021 count
12
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-
12
2.7%
-
German
2021 count
11
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-
11
2.4%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+92
-0.7pp
Australian
+76
-16.8pp
Scottish
+42
-1.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Swanpool. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Benalla (RC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Benalla (RC)% | Count | % | Benalla (RC)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 102 | 22.6% | 21.5% | 10 | 23.3% | 20.6% | +92 | -0.7pp |
| Australian | 92 | 20.4% | 19.9% | 16 | 37.2% | 21.1% | +76 | -16.8pp |
| Scottish | 47 | 10.4% | 6.6% | 5 | 11.6% | 6.4% | +42 | -1.2pp |
| Irish | 31 | 6.9% | 7.2% | - | - | 6.9% | - | - |
| Italian | 12 | 2.7% | 1.3% | - | - | 1.2% | - | - |
| German | 11 | 2.4% | 2.5% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| Total | 452 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 43 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +409 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).