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 Break O'Day (M) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Break O'Day (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Break O'Day (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Break O'Day (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
English
2021 count
3,228
% of total
23.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
3,228
23.9%
+0.8pp
Australian
2021 count
2,647
% of total
19.6%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
2,647
19.6%
-1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
771
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
771
5.7%
+1.0pp
Irish
2021 count
717
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
717
5.3%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
301
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
301
2.2%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
272
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
272
2.0%
+1.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
105
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
105
0.8%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
85
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
85
0.6%
+0.2pp
Welsh
2021 count
54
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
54
0.4%
+0.1pp
French
2021 count
45
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
45
0.3%
+0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+416
+0.8pp
Australian
+32
-1.8pp
Scottish
+202
+1.0pp
Irish
+89
+0.1pp
German
+43
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+237
+1.7pp
Dutch
+27
+0.2pp
Italian
+36
+0.2pp
Welsh
+16
+0.1pp
French
+16
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Break O'Day (M). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,228 | 23.9% | 22.3% | 2,812 | 23.1% | 22.3% | +416 | +0.8pp |
| Australian | 2,647 | 19.6% | 21.3% | 2,615 | 21.4% | 22.5% | +32 | -1.8pp |
| Scottish | 771 | 5.7% | 4.7% | 569 | 4.7% | 4.6% | +202 | +1.0pp |
| Irish | 717 | 5.3% | 4.9% | 628 | 5.2% | 5.1% | +89 | +0.1pp |
| German | 301 | 2.2% | 1.7% | 258 | 2.1% | 1.7% | +43 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 272 | 2.0% | 2.7% | 35 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +237 | +1.7pp |
| Dutch | 105 | 0.8% | 1.1% | 78 | 0.6% | 1.0% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 85 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 49 | 0.4% | 0.6% | +36 | +0.2pp |
| Welsh | 54 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 38 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +16 | +0.1pp |
| French | 45 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 29 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +16 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 13,493 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,194 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,299 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).