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 Federal (NSW) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Federal (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Federal (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Byron (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Federal (NSW), with comparison markers for Byron (A).
English
2021 count
311
% of total
39.7%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
311
39.7%
+1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
225
% of total
28.7%
Change from 2016
-6.3pp
225
28.7%
-6.3pp
Irish
2021 count
114
% of total
14.5%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
114
14.5%
+2.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
84
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
84
10.7%
-2.4pp
German
2021 count
37
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
37
4.7%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
22
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
22
2.8%
+0.6pp
South African
2021 count
17
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
17
2.2%
+1.2pp
Welsh
2021 count
16
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
16
2.0%
+1.6pp
French
2021 count
15
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
15
1.9%
+1.3pp
New Zealander
2021 count
13
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-
13
1.7%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+49
+1.6pp
Australian
-16
-6.3pp
Irish
+32
+2.6pp
Scottish
-6
-2.4pp
German
+6
+0.2pp
Italian
+7
+0.6pp
South African
+10
+1.2pp
Welsh
+13
+1.6pp
French
+11
+1.3pp
Dutch
-5
-0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Federal (NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Byron (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Byron (A)% | Count | % | Byron (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 311 | 39.7% | 40.3% | 262 | 38.1% | 39.2% | +49 | +1.6pp |
| Australian | 225 | 28.7% | 30.0% | 241 | 35.0% | 33.9% | -16 | -6.3pp |
| Irish | 114 | 14.5% | 15.3% | 82 | 11.9% | 14.8% | +32 | +2.6pp |
| Scottish | 84 | 10.7% | 12.0% | 90 | 13.1% | 11.2% | -6 | -2.4pp |
| German | 37 | 4.7% | 6.1% | 31 | 4.5% | 5.4% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 22 | 2.8% | 4.2% | 15 | 2.2% | 2.8% | +7 | +0.6pp |
| South African | 17 | 2.2% | 0.6% | 7 | 1.0% | 0.5% | +10 | +1.2pp |
| Welsh | 16 | 2.0% | 0.8% | 3 | 0.4% | 0.8% | +13 | +1.6pp |
| French | 15 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 4 | 0.6% | 1.3% | +11 | +1.3pp |
| New Zealander | 13 | 1.7% | 0.9% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).