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 Bridgewater (Tas.) were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bridgewater (Tas.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bridgewater (Tas.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brighton (M) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bridgewater (Tas.), with comparison markers for Brighton (M).
English
2021 count
1,971
% of total
21.5%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
1,971
21.5%
-1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,921
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
1,921
21.0%
-3.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
602
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+6.5pp
602
6.6%
+6.5pp
Irish
2021 count
274
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
274
3.0%
-1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
223
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
223
2.4%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
116
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
116
1.3%
-0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
67
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
67
0.7%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
41
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
41
0.4%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
39
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
39
0.4%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
32
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
32
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+152
-1.0pp
Australian
-77
-3.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+590
+6.5pp
Irish
-106
-1.7pp
Scottish
+28
0.0pp
German
+3
-0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
+61
+0.6pp
Italian
+3
-0.1pp
Filipino
+15
+0.1pp
Dutch
+6
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bridgewater (Tas.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brighton (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brighton (M)% | Count | % | Brighton (M)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,971 | 21.5% | 22.4% | 1,819 | 22.5% | 22.5% | +152 | -1.0pp |
| Australian | 1,921 | 21.0% | 22.9% | 1,998 | 24.7% | 24.8% | -77 | -3.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 602 | 6.6% | 4.9% | 12 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +590 | +6.5pp |
| Irish | 274 | 3.0% | 3.9% | 380 | 4.7% | 4.6% | -106 | -1.7pp |
| Scottish | 223 | 2.4% | 3.2% | 195 | 2.4% | 2.9% | +28 | 0.0pp |
| German | 116 | 1.3% | 1.5% | 113 | 1.4% | 1.4% | +3 | -0.1pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 67 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 6 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +61 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 41 | 0.4% | 0.7% | 38 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +3 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 39 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 24 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +15 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 32 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 26 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +6 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 9,155 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,080 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,075 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).