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 Circular Head (M) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Circular Head (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Circular Head (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Circular Head (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Australian
2021 count
3,585
% of total
22.1%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
3,585
22.1%
-3.6pp
English
2021 count
3,196
% of total
19.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
3,196
19.7%
-0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,166
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+6.9pp
1,166
7.2%
+6.9pp
Irish
2021 count
764
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
764
4.7%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
611
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
611
3.8%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
178
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
178
1.1%
-0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
166
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
166
1.0%
0.0pp
Pakistani
2021 count
104
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-
104
0.6%
-
New Zealander
2021 count
70
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
70
0.4%
-0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
58
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-
58
0.4%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-488
-3.6pp
English
-63
-0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
+1,122
+6.9pp
Irish
-16
-0.2pp
Scottish
-46
-0.4pp
German
-33
-0.2pp
Dutch
+5
0.0pp
New Zealander
-15
-0.1pp
Maori
-6
0.0pp
Chinese
+13
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Circular Head (M). 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 | |
| Australian | 3,585 | 22.1% | 21.3% | 4,073 | 25.7% | 22.5% | -488 | -3.6pp |
| English | 3,196 | 19.7% | 22.3% | 3,259 | 20.6% | 22.3% | -63 | -0.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 1,166 | 7.2% | 2.7% | 44 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +1,122 | +6.9pp |
| Irish | 764 | 4.7% | 4.9% | 780 | 4.9% | 5.1% | -16 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 611 | 3.8% | 4.7% | 657 | 4.2% | 4.6% | -46 | -0.4pp |
| German | 178 | 1.1% | 1.7% | 211 | 1.3% | 1.7% | -33 | -0.2pp |
| Dutch | 166 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 161 | 1.0% | 1.0% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Pakistani | 104 | 0.6% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| New Zealander | 70 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 85 | 0.5% | 0.2% | -15 | -0.1pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 58 | 0.4% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Total | 16,250 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 15,827 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +423 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).