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 Dorset (M) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Dorset (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Dorset (M) 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 Dorset (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
English
2021 count
3,119
% of total
22.9%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
3,119
22.9%
+0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
3,105
% of total
22.8%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
3,105
22.8%
-1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
621
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
621
4.6%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
586
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
586
4.3%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
253
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
253
1.9%
+1.8pp
German
2021 count
232
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
232
1.7%
-0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
89
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
89
0.7%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
65
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
65
0.5%
0.0pp
Pakistani
2021 count
35
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-
35
0.3%
-
Polish
2021 count
32
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
32
0.2%
0.0pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+189
+0.7pp
Australian
-110
-1.6pp
Scottish
-18
-0.2pp
Irish
+41
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+244
+1.8pp
German
-2
-0.1pp
Dutch
-11
-0.1pp
Italian
-3
0.0pp
Polish
+11
0.0pp
New Zealander
+14
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Dorset (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 | |
| English | 3,119 | 22.9% | 22.3% | 2,930 | 22.2% | 22.3% | +189 | +0.7pp |
| Australian | 3,105 | 22.8% | 21.3% | 3,215 | 24.4% | 22.5% | -110 | -1.6pp |
| Scottish | 621 | 4.6% | 4.7% | 639 | 4.8% | 4.6% | -18 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 586 | 4.3% | 4.9% | 545 | 4.1% | 5.1% | +41 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 253 | 1.9% | 2.7% | 9 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +244 | +1.8pp |
| German | 232 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 234 | 1.8% | 1.7% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Dutch | 89 | 0.7% | 1.1% | 100 | 0.8% | 1.0% | -11 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 65 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 68 | 0.5% | 0.6% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Pakistani | 35 | 0.3% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Polish | 32 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 21 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +11 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 13,644 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 13,188 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +456 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).