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 Desert (R) were Australian Aboriginal, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Central Desert (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Central Desert (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Central Desert (R), with comparison markers for Regional NT.
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
2,824
% of total
39.5%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
2,824
39.5%
+0.9pp
English
2021 count
222
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
222
3.1%
+0.5pp
Australian
2021 count
220
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
220
3.1%
-1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
68
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
68
1.0%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
55
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
55
0.8%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
43
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
43
0.6%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
18
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
18
0.3%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
14
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
14
0.2%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
13
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
13
0.2%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
-2
+0.9pp
English
+30
+0.5pp
Australian
-87
-1.1pp
Irish
-15
-0.1pp
Scottish
-6
0.0pp
German
+6
+0.1pp
Chinese
+14
+0.2pp
Dutch
+2
0.0pp
Italian
+6
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Central Desert (R). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | pp | |
| Australian Aboriginal | 2,824 | 39.5% | 24.6% | 2,826 | 38.6% | 19.8% | -2 | +0.9pp |
| English | 222 | 3.1% | 8.1% | 192 | 2.6% | 8.4% | +30 | +0.5pp |
| Australian | 220 | 3.1% | 8.4% | 307 | 4.2% | 11.0% | -87 | -1.1pp |
| Irish | 68 | 1.0% | 2.7% | 83 | 1.1% | 2.8% | -15 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 55 | 0.8% | 2.3% | 61 | 0.8% | 2.4% | -6 | 0.0pp |
| German | 43 | 0.6% | 1.4% | 37 | 0.5% | 1.5% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 18 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.4% | +14 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 14 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 12 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 13 | 0.2% | 0.6% | 7 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 7,157 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7,320 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -163 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).