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 Lismore (Vic.) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lismore (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lismore (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Corangamite (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lismore (Vic.), with comparison markers for Corangamite (S).
Australian
2021 count
216
% of total
45.8%
Change from 2016
+9.1pp
216
45.8%
+9.1pp
English
2021 count
186
% of total
39.4%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
186
39.4%
-3.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
63
% of total
13.3%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
63
13.3%
-1.0pp
Irish
2021 count
51
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
51
10.8%
-2.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
18
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-
18
3.8%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+62
+9.1pp
English
+8
-3.0pp
Scottish
+3
-1.0pp
Irish
-6
-2.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lismore (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Corangamite (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Corangamite (S)% | Count | % | Corangamite (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 216 | 45.8% | 44.3% | 154 | 36.7% | 44.3% | +62 | +9.1pp |
| English | 186 | 39.4% | 40.1% | 178 | 42.4% | 39.6% | +8 | -3.0pp |
| Scottish | 63 | 13.3% | 12.9% | 60 | 14.3% | 12.4% | +3 | -1.0pp |
| Irish | 51 | 10.8% | 14.9% | 57 | 13.6% | 14.9% | -6 | -2.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 18 | 3.8% | 1.1% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).