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 Bourke (A) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bourke (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bourke (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bourke (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Australian
2021 count
787
% of total
16.9%
Change from 2016
-7.6pp
787
16.9%
-7.6pp
English
2021 count
703
% of total
15.1%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
703
15.1%
+1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
597
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
+9.9pp
597
12.8%
+9.9pp
Irish
2021 count
225
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
225
4.8%
+0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
146
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
146
3.1%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
51
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
51
1.1%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
19
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
19
0.4%
+0.2pp
Nepalese
2021 count
19
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
19
0.4%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
18
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
18
0.4%
+0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
18
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
18
0.4%
+0.3pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-497
-7.6pp
English
-19
+1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+447
+9.9pp
Irish
-11
+0.3pp
Scottish
+5
+0.4pp
German
-7
0.0pp
Italian
+8
+0.2pp
Nepalese
+4
+0.1pp
Chinese
+5
+0.2pp
Indian
+12
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bourke (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 | 787 | 16.9% | 20.1% | 1,284 | 24.5% | 21.3% | -497 | -7.6pp |
| English | 703 | 15.1% | 20.5% | 722 | 13.8% | 20.4% | -19 | +1.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 597 | 12.8% | 3.1% | 150 | 2.9% | 0.4% | +447 | +9.9pp |
| Irish | 225 | 4.8% | 5.9% | 236 | 4.5% | 6.1% | -11 | +0.3pp |
| Scottish | 146 | 3.1% | 5.4% | 141 | 2.7% | 5.3% | +5 | +0.4pp |
| German | 51 | 1.1% | 2.1% | 58 | 1.1% | 2.1% | -7 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 19 | 0.4% | 1.4% | 11 | 0.2% | 1.3% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| Nepalese | 19 | 0.4% | 0.1% | 15 | 0.3% | 0.0% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 18 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 13 | 0.2% | 0.5% | +5 | +0.2pp |
| Indian | 18 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 6 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +12 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 4,652 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,237 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -585 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).