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 Glen Innes Severn (A) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Glen Innes Severn (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Glen Innes Severn (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Glen Innes Severn (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
3,747
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
3,747
21.0%
+0.9pp
Australian
2021 count
3,637
% of total
20.4%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
3,637
20.4%
-1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,054
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,054
5.9%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,042
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,042
5.8%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
596
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
596
3.3%
+3.0pp
German
2021 count
443
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
443
2.5%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
95
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
95
0.5%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
84
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
84
0.5%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
53
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
53
0.3%
+0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
48
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
48
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+188
+0.9pp
Australian
-212
-1.4pp
Scottish
+21
+0.1pp
Irish
+19
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+535
+3.0pp
German
-22
-0.1pp
Italian
+12
0.0pp
Dutch
+1
0.0pp
Chinese
+15
+0.1pp
Welsh
-12
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Glen Innes Severn (A). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,747 | 21.0% | 20.5% | 3,559 | 20.1% | 20.4% | +188 | +0.9pp |
| Australian | 3,637 | 20.4% | 20.1% | 3,849 | 21.8% | 21.3% | -212 | -1.4pp |
| Scottish | 1,054 | 5.9% | 5.4% | 1,033 | 5.8% | 5.3% | +21 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 1,042 | 5.8% | 5.9% | 1,023 | 5.8% | 6.1% | +19 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 596 | 3.3% | 3.1% | 61 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +535 | +3.0pp |
| German | 443 | 2.5% | 2.1% | 465 | 2.6% | 2.1% | -22 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 95 | 0.5% | 1.4% | 83 | 0.5% | 1.3% | +12 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 84 | 0.5% | 0.7% | 83 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 53 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 38 | 0.2% | 0.5% | +15 | +0.1pp |
| Welsh | 48 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 60 | 0.3% | 0.3% | -12 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 17,840 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 17,675 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +165 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).