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 Stanley (Tas.) were English, Australian and Irish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Stanley (Tas.) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Stanley (Tas.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Circular Head (M) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Stanley (Tas.), with comparison markers for Circular Head (M).

Stanley (Tas.)
Circular Head (M)

English

2021 count

282

% of total

47.4%

Change from 2016

+5.8pp

Australian

2021 count

228

% of total

38.3%

Change from 2016

-5.3pp

Irish

2021 count

102

% of total

17.1%

Change from 2016

+4.3pp

Scottish

2021 count

55

% of total

9.2%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

51

% of total

8.6%

Change from 2016

+7.5pp

German

2021 count

21

% of total

3.5%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Dutch

2021 count

20

% of total

3.4%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Data table

Ancestry for Stanley (Tas.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Circular Head (M).

Ancestry for Stanley (Tas.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Circular Head (M).
Ancestry for Stanley (Tas.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Circular Head (M).
Category20212016Change
Count%Circular Head (M)%Count%Circular Head (M)%Countpp
English28247.4%39.4%23041.6%41.1%+52+5.8pp
Australian22838.3%44.2%24143.6%51.4%-13-5.3pp
Irish10217.1%9.4%7112.8%9.8%+31+4.3pp
Scottish559.2%7.5%468.3%8.3%+9+0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal518.6%14.4%61.1%0.6%+45+7.5pp
German213.5%2.2%183.3%2.7%+3+0.2pp
Dutch203.4%2.0%162.9%2.0%+4+0.5pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).