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 Berrigan (A) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Berrigan (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Berrigan (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Berrigan (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
3,644
% of total
42.1%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
3,644
42.1%
+1.8pp
Australian
2021 count
3,454
% of total
39.9%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
3,454
39.9%
-1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
1,188
% of total
13.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
1,188
13.7%
+0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
981
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
981
11.3%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
306
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
306
3.5%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
248
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
248
2.9%
+2.8pp
Italian
2021 count
232
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
232
2.7%
+0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
128
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
128
1.5%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
55
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
55
0.6%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
54
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
54
0.6%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+235
+1.8pp
Australian
-44
-1.4pp
Irish
+94
+0.8pp
Scottish
+35
+0.1pp
German
-4
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+241
+2.8pp
Italian
+48
+0.5pp
Dutch
+18
+0.2pp
New Zealander
+2
0.0pp
Filipino
+13
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Berrigan (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 | |
| English | 3,644 | 42.1% | 40.9% | 3,409 | 40.3% | 40.8% | +235 | +1.8pp |
| Australian | 3,454 | 39.9% | 40.2% | 3,498 | 41.3% | 42.5% | -44 | -1.4pp |
| Irish | 1,188 | 13.7% | 11.8% | 1,094 | 12.9% | 12.3% | +94 | +0.8pp |
| Scottish | 981 | 11.3% | 10.7% | 946 | 11.2% | 10.5% | +35 | +0.1pp |
| German | 306 | 3.5% | 4.2% | 310 | 3.7% | 4.3% | -4 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 248 | 2.9% | 6.1% | 7 | 0.1% | 0.8% | +241 | +2.8pp |
| Italian | 232 | 2.7% | 2.8% | 184 | 2.2% | 2.6% | +48 | +0.5pp |
| Dutch | 128 | 1.5% | 1.4% | 110 | 1.3% | 1.3% | +18 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 55 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 53 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 54 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 41 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +13 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).