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 March were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
March - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for March in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cabonne (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for March, with comparison markers for Cabonne (A).
Australian
2021 count
70
% of total
59.3%
Change from 2016
+10.6pp
70
59.3%
+10.6pp
English
2021 count
43
% of total
36.4%
Change from 2016
-19.3pp
43
36.4%
-19.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
15
% of total
12.7%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
15
12.7%
+1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
10
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
10
8.5%
-1.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+14
+10.6pp
English
-21
-19.3pp
Scottish
+2
+1.4pp
Irish
-2
-1.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for March. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cabonne (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cabonne (A)% | Count | % | Cabonne (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 70 | 59.3% | 46.5% | 56 | 48.7% | 48.0% | +14 | +10.6pp |
| English | 43 | 36.4% | 41.9% | 64 | 55.7% | 42.4% | -21 | -19.3pp |
| Scottish | 15 | 12.7% | 10.8% | 13 | 11.3% | 10.1% | +2 | +1.4pp |
| Irish | 10 | 8.5% | 12.6% | 12 | 10.4% | 12.7% | -2 | -1.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).