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 Brewarrina were Australian Aboriginal, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brewarrina - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brewarrina in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brewarrina (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brewarrina, with comparison markers for Brewarrina (A).
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
464
% of total
49.8%
Change from 2016
+17.8pp
464
49.8%
+17.8pp
Australian
2021 count
216
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
-13.4pp
216
23.2%
-13.4pp
English
2021 count
196
% of total
21.1%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
196
21.1%
+1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
59
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
59
6.3%
-2.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
31
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
31
3.3%
-1.7pp
Swedish
2021 count
10
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
10
1.1%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
+98
+17.8pp
Australian
-202
-13.4pp
English
-30
+1.3pp
Irish
-41
-2.4pp
Scottish
-26
-1.7pp
Swedish
+6
+0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brewarrina. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brewarrina (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brewarrina (A)% | Count | % | Brewarrina (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian Aboriginal | 464 | 49.8% | 46.2% | 366 | 32.0% | 32.4% | +98 | +17.8pp |
| Australian | 216 | 23.2% | 21.8% | 418 | 36.6% | 35.9% | -202 | -13.4pp |
| English | 196 | 21.1% | 21.5% | 226 | 19.8% | 20.8% | -30 | +1.3pp |
| Irish | 59 | 6.3% | 7.2% | 100 | 8.7% | 8.0% | -41 | -2.4pp |
| Scottish | 31 | 3.3% | 5.9% | 57 | 5.0% | 5.6% | -26 | -1.7pp |
| Swedish | 10 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 4 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +6 | +0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).