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 Wilcannia were Australian Aboriginal, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wilcannia - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wilcannia in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Central Darling (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wilcannia, with comparison markers for Central Darling (A).
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
359
% of total
48.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
359
48.8%
+0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
113
% of total
15.4%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
113
15.4%
-3.5pp
English
2021 count
101
% of total
13.7%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
101
13.7%
-1.7pp
Irish
2021 count
37
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
37
5.0%
+0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
27
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
27
3.7%
-1.3pp
German
2021 count
18
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
18
2.4%
-0.3pp
Inadequately described
2021 count
11
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
11
1.5%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
-4
+0.1pp
Australian
-28
-3.5pp
English
-14
-1.7pp
Irish
+4
+0.6pp
Scottish
-10
-1.3pp
German
-2
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wilcannia. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Central Darling (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Central Darling (A)% | Count | % | Central Darling (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian Aboriginal | 359 | 48.8% | 33.9% | 363 | 48.7% | 24.7% | -4 | +0.1pp |
| Australian | 113 | 15.4% | 25.4% | 141 | 18.9% | 33.1% | -28 | -3.5pp |
| English | 101 | 13.7% | 22.0% | 115 | 15.4% | 23.1% | -14 | -1.7pp |
| Irish | 37 | 5.0% | 6.3% | 33 | 4.4% | 5.7% | +4 | +0.6pp |
| Scottish | 27 | 3.7% | 5.3% | 37 | 5.0% | 6.2% | -10 | -1.3pp |
| German | 18 | 2.4% | 3.2% | 20 | 2.7% | 2.6% | -2 | -0.3pp |
| Inadequately described | 11 | 1.5% | 0.6% | - | - | - | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).