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 Glenorchy (C) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Glenorchy (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Glenorchy (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Hobart and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Glenorchy (C), with comparison markers for Greater Hobart.
English
2021 count
19,235
% of total
19.1%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
19,235
19.1%
-2.1pp
Australian
2021 count
17,982
% of total
17.8%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
17,982
17.8%
-2.6pp
Irish
2021 count
4,706
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
4,706
4.7%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
3,701
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
3,701
3.7%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
2,516
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
2,516
2.5%
+2.3pp
Nepalese
2021 count
2,318
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
2,318
2.3%
+1.9pp
German
2021 count
1,587
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,587
1.6%
-0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
1,432
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
1,432
1.4%
+0.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,131
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,131
1.1%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
853
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
853
0.8%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-405
-2.1pp
Australian
-872
-2.6pp
Irish
-430
-0.9pp
Scottish
+157
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+2,330
+2.3pp
Nepalese
+1,992
+1.9pp
German
-128
-0.3pp
Indian
+1,005
+0.9pp
Chinese
+634
+0.6pp
Italian
-5
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Glenorchy (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Hobart.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Hobart% | Count | % | Greater Hobart% | Count | pp | |
| English | 19,235 | 19.1% | 21.3% | 19,640 | 21.2% | 22.2% | -405 | -2.1pp |
| Australian | 17,982 | 17.8% | 18.8% | 18,854 | 20.4% | 20.4% | -872 | -2.6pp |
| Irish | 4,706 | 4.7% | 5.3% | 5,136 | 5.6% | 5.9% | -430 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 3,701 | 3.7% | 4.7% | 3,544 | 3.8% | 4.7% | +157 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 2,516 | 2.5% | 2.0% | 186 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +2,330 | +2.3pp |
| Nepalese | 2,318 | 2.3% | 0.9% | 326 | 0.4% | 0.1% | +1,992 | +1.9pp |
| German | 1,587 | 1.6% | 1.8% | 1,715 | 1.9% | 1.9% | -128 | -0.3pp |
| Indian | 1,432 | 1.4% | 0.8% | 427 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +1,005 | +0.9pp |
| Chinese | 1,131 | 1.1% | 1.8% | 497 | 0.5% | 1.1% | +634 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 853 | 0.8% | 0.9% | 858 | 0.9% | 0.9% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 100,817 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 92,500 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +8,317 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).