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 Wivenhoe were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wivenhoe - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wivenhoe in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Burnie (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wivenhoe, with comparison markers for Burnie (C).
Australian
2021 count
120
% of total
51.1%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
120
51.1%
-3.0pp
English
2021 count
81
% of total
34.5%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
81
34.5%
-2.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
20
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
-
20
8.5%
-
Irish
2021 count
17
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
17
7.2%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+1
-3.0pp
English
0
-2.3pp
Irish
-2
-1.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wivenhoe. 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 | 120 | 51.1% | 46.1% | 119 | 54.1% | 47.9% | +1 | -3.0pp |
| English | 81 | 34.5% | 42.9% | 81 | 36.8% | 45.1% | 0 | -2.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 20 | 8.5% | 7.6% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Irish | 17 | 7.2% | 9.4% | 19 | 8.6% | 10.3% | -2 | -1.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).