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 Burnie were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Burnie - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Burnie in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Burnie (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Burnie, with comparison markers for Burnie (C).
English
2021 count
316
% of total
23.3%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
316
23.3%
-1.3pp
Australian
2021 count
244
% of total
18.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
244
18.0%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
90
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
90
6.6%
-2.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
76
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
76
5.6%
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
51
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
51
3.8%
+3.5pp
Indian
2021 count
26
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
26
1.9%
+1.2pp
German
2021 count
22
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
22
1.6%
-0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
21
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
21
1.5%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
20
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
20
1.5%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+29
-1.3pp
Australian
+29
-0.4pp
Irish
-11
-2.0pp
Scottish
+23
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+47
+3.5pp
Indian
+18
+1.2pp
German
-4
-0.6pp
Chinese
+8
+0.4pp
Dutch
+12
+0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Burnie. 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 | |
| English | 316 | 23.3% | 21.5% | 287 | 24.6% | 22.5% | +29 | -1.3pp |
| Australian | 244 | 18.0% | 23.1% | 215 | 18.4% | 24.0% | +29 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 90 | 6.6% | 4.7% | 101 | 8.6% | 5.2% | -11 | -2.0pp |
| Scottish | 76 | 5.6% | 4.6% | 53 | 4.5% | 4.4% | +23 | +1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 51 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 4 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +47 | +3.5pp |
| Indian | 26 | 1.9% | 0.5% | 8 | 0.7% | 0.3% | +18 | +1.2pp |
| German | 22 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 26 | 2.2% | 1.7% | -4 | -0.6pp |
| Chinese | 21 | 1.5% | 0.5% | 13 | 1.1% | 0.4% | +8 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 20 | 1.5% | 0.8% | 8 | 0.7% | 0.6% | +12 | +0.8pp |
| Total | 1,359 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,168 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +191 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).