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 (A) were Australian Aboriginal, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brewarrina (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brewarrina (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brewarrina (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
626
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
+6.8pp
626
23.2%
+6.8pp
Australian
2021 count
296
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
-7.1pp
296
11.0%
-7.1pp
English
2021 count
292
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
292
10.8%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
97
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
97
3.6%
-0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
80
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
80
3.0%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
27
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
27
1.0%
-0.3pp
Maori
2021 count
12
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
12
0.4%
+0.3pp
Swedish
2021 count
10
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
10
0.4%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
+91
+6.8pp
Australian
-296
-7.1pp
English
-52
+0.3pp
Irish
-35
-0.4pp
Scottish
-13
+0.2pp
German
-17
-0.3pp
Maori
+8
+0.3pp
Swedish
+6
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brewarrina (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 Aboriginal | 626 | 23.2% | 3.1% | 535 | 16.4% | 0.4% | +91 | +6.8pp |
| Australian | 296 | 11.0% | 20.1% | 592 | 18.1% | 21.3% | -296 | -7.1pp |
| English | 292 | 10.8% | 20.5% | 344 | 10.5% | 20.4% | -52 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 97 | 3.6% | 5.9% | 132 | 4.0% | 6.1% | -35 | -0.4pp |
| Scottish | 80 | 3.0% | 5.4% | 93 | 2.8% | 5.3% | -13 | +0.2pp |
| German | 27 | 1.0% | 2.1% | 44 | 1.3% | 2.1% | -17 | -0.3pp |
| Maori | 12 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +8 | +0.3pp |
| Swedish | 10 | 0.4% | 0.1% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +6 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 2,696 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,267 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -571 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).