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 Ringarooma were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Ringarooma - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Ringarooma in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Dorset (M) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ringarooma, with comparison markers for Dorset (M).
English
2021 count
167
% of total
49.6%
Change from 2016
+7.6pp
167
49.6%
+7.6pp
Australian
2021 count
126
% of total
37.4%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
126
37.4%
-4.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
56
% of total
16.6%
Change from 2016
+6.5pp
56
16.6%
+6.5pp
Irish
2021 count
27
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
27
8.0%
+1.8pp
German
2021 count
20
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
20
5.9%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
13
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-
13
3.9%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+25
+7.6pp
Australian
-16
-4.6pp
Scottish
+22
+6.5pp
Irish
+6
+1.8pp
German
0
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Ringarooma. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Dorset (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Dorset (M)% | Count | % | Dorset (M)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 167 | 49.6% | 45.7% | 142 | 42.0% | 44.3% | +25 | +7.6pp |
| Australian | 126 | 37.4% | 45.5% | 142 | 42.0% | 48.6% | -16 | -4.6pp |
| Scottish | 56 | 16.6% | 9.1% | 34 | 10.1% | 9.7% | +22 | +6.5pp |
| Irish | 27 | 8.0% | 8.6% | 21 | 6.2% | 8.2% | +6 | +1.8pp |
| German | 20 | 5.9% | 3.4% | 20 | 5.9% | 3.5% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 13 | 3.9% | 3.7% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).