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 Central Darling (A) were Australian Aboriginal, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Central Darling (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Central Darling (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Central Darling (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
584
% of total
17.0%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
584
17.0%
+4.5pp
Australian
2021 count
438
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
438
12.8%
-3.9pp
English
2021 count
380
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
380
11.1%
-0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
108
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
108
3.1%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
91
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
91
2.7%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
56
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
56
1.6%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
15
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
15
0.4%
0.0pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
12
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-
12
0.3%
-
Tongan
2021 count
12
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
12
0.3%
-0.1pp
Inadequately described
2021 count
11
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-
11
0.3%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
+131
+4.5pp
Australian
-168
-3.9pp
English
-43
-0.5pp
Irish
+4
+0.2pp
Scottish
-22
-0.4pp
German
+9
+0.3pp
Italian
-1
0.0pp
Tongan
-1
-0.1pp
New Zealander
+5
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Central Darling (A). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Australian Aboriginal | 584 | 17.0% | 3.1% | 453 | 12.5% | 0.4% | +131 | +4.5pp |
| Australian | 438 | 12.8% | 20.1% | 606 | 16.7% | 21.3% | -168 | -3.9pp |
| English | 380 | 11.1% | 20.5% | 423 | 11.6% | 20.4% | -43 | -0.5pp |
| Irish | 108 | 3.1% | 5.9% | 104 | 2.9% | 6.1% | +4 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 91 | 2.7% | 5.4% | 113 | 3.1% | 5.3% | -22 | -0.4pp |
| German | 56 | 1.6% | 2.1% | 47 | 1.3% | 2.1% | +9 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 15 | 0.4% | 1.4% | 16 | 0.4% | 1.3% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 12 | 0.3% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Tongan | 12 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 13 | 0.4% | 0.0% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Inadequately described | 11 | 0.3% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Total | 3,431 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,634 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -203 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).