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 Highlands (M) (Tas.) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Central Highlands (M) (Tas.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Central Highlands (M) (Tas.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Central Highlands (M) (Tas.), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
English
2021 count
1,113
% of total
22.3%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
1,113
22.3%
-1.3pp
Australian
2021 count
1,067
% of total
21.3%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
1,067
21.3%
-1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
237
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
237
4.7%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
195
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
195
3.9%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
127
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
127
2.5%
+2.4pp
German
2021 count
93
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
93
1.9%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
27
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
27
0.5%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
26
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
26
0.5%
+0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
15
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-
15
0.3%
-
Welsh
2021 count
13
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
13
0.3%
+0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+109
-1.3pp
Australian
+103
-1.3pp
Irish
+31
-0.1pp
Scottish
+14
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+122
+2.4pp
German
+36
+0.6pp
Dutch
+6
0.0pp
Italian
+7
+0.1pp
Welsh
+4
+0.1pp
Indian
+6
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Central Highlands (M) (Tas.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,113 | 22.3% | 22.3% | 1,004 | 23.6% | 22.3% | +109 | -1.3pp |
| Australian | 1,067 | 21.3% | 21.3% | 964 | 22.6% | 22.5% | +103 | -1.3pp |
| Irish | 237 | 4.7% | 4.9% | 206 | 4.8% | 5.1% | +31 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 195 | 3.9% | 4.7% | 181 | 4.2% | 4.6% | +14 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 127 | 2.5% | 2.7% | 5 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +122 | +2.4pp |
| German | 93 | 1.9% | 1.7% | 57 | 1.3% | 1.7% | +36 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 27 | 0.5% | 1.1% | 21 | 0.5% | 1.0% | +6 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 26 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 19 | 0.4% | 0.6% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 15 | 0.3% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Welsh | 13 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 9 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 5,000 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,259 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +741 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).