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 Acton (Tas.) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Acton (Tas.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Acton (Tas.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Burnie (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Acton (Tas.), with comparison markers for Burnie (C).
Australian
2021 count
740
% of total
27.1%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
740
27.1%
+1.5pp
English
2021 count
570
% of total
20.9%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
570
20.9%
-2.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
129
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
129
4.7%
+4.5pp
Irish
2021 count
105
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
105
3.8%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
74
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
74
2.7%
-1.8pp
German
2021 count
40
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
40
1.5%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
18
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
18
0.7%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
11
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
11
0.4%
+0.3pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
10
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-
10
0.4%
-
Chinese
2021 count
10
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
10
0.4%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+53
+1.5pp
English
-62
-2.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
+124
+4.5pp
Irish
-13
-0.6pp
Scottish
-47
-1.8pp
German
+11
+0.4pp
Dutch
-2
0.0pp
Filipino
+7
+0.3pp
Chinese
0
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Acton (Tas.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Burnie (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Burnie (C)% | Count | % | Burnie (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 740 | 27.1% | 23.1% | 687 | 25.6% | 24.0% | +53 | +1.5pp |
| English | 570 | 20.9% | 21.5% | 632 | 23.5% | 22.5% | -62 | -2.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 129 | 4.7% | 3.8% | 5 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +124 | +4.5pp |
| Irish | 105 | 3.8% | 4.7% | 118 | 4.4% | 5.2% | -13 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 74 | 2.7% | 4.6% | 121 | 4.5% | 4.4% | -47 | -1.8pp |
| German | 40 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 29 | 1.1% | 1.7% | +11 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 18 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 20 | 0.7% | 0.6% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 11 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +7 | +0.3pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 10 | 0.4% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Chinese | 10 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 10 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 2,733 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,687 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +46 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).