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 George Town (M) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
George Town (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for George Town (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for George Town (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
English
2021 count
3,244
% of total
23.1%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
3,244
23.1%
+1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
3,078
% of total
21.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
3,078
21.9%
-1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
698
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
698
5.0%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
678
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
678
4.8%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
305
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
305
2.2%
+2.0pp
German
2021 count
245
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
245
1.7%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
117
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
117
0.8%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
106
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
106
0.8%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
41
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
41
0.3%
+0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
37
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
37
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+283
+1.2pp
Australian
-26
-1.1pp
Scottish
+42
+0.1pp
Irish
+38
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+284
+2.0pp
German
+33
+0.1pp
Dutch
+10
0.0pp
Italian
+16
+0.1pp
Chinese
+11
+0.1pp
New Zealander
+3
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for George Town (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 | 3,244 | 23.1% | 22.3% | 2,961 | 21.9% | 22.3% | +283 | +1.2pp |
| Australian | 3,078 | 21.9% | 21.3% | 3,104 | 23.0% | 22.5% | -26 | -1.1pp |
| Scottish | 698 | 5.0% | 4.7% | 656 | 4.9% | 4.6% | +42 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 678 | 4.8% | 4.9% | 640 | 4.7% | 5.1% | +38 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 305 | 2.2% | 2.7% | 21 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +284 | +2.0pp |
| German | 245 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 212 | 1.6% | 1.7% | +33 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 117 | 0.8% | 1.1% | 107 | 0.8% | 1.0% | +10 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 106 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 90 | 0.7% | 0.6% | +16 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 41 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 30 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +11 | +0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 37 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 34 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 14,068 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 13,516 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +552 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).