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 Greater Hume Shire (A) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Greater Hume Shire (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Greater Hume Shire (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Hume Shire (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Australian
2021 count
4,836
% of total
21.7%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
4,836
21.7%
-1.1pp
English
2021 count
4,314
% of total
19.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
4,314
19.4%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
1,356
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,356
6.1%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,303
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,303
5.8%
+0.6pp
German
2021 count
1,143
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
1,143
5.1%
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
355
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
355
1.6%
+1.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
202
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
202
0.9%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
178
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
178
0.8%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
55
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
55
0.2%
-0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
47
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
47
0.2%
+0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+112
-1.1pp
English
+402
+0.5pp
Irish
+102
0.0pp
Scottish
+227
+0.6pp
German
-51
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+317
+1.4pp
Dutch
+44
+0.1pp
Italian
+63
+0.2pp
New Zealander
-2
-0.1pp
Polish
+19
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Greater Hume Shire (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 | |
| Australian | 4,836 | 21.7% | 20.1% | 4,724 | 22.8% | 21.3% | +112 | -1.1pp |
| English | 4,314 | 19.4% | 20.5% | 3,912 | 18.9% | 20.4% | +402 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 1,356 | 6.1% | 5.9% | 1,254 | 6.1% | 6.1% | +102 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,303 | 5.8% | 5.4% | 1,076 | 5.2% | 5.3% | +227 | +0.6pp |
| German | 1,143 | 5.1% | 2.1% | 1,194 | 5.8% | 2.1% | -51 | -0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 355 | 1.6% | 3.1% | 38 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +317 | +1.4pp |
| Dutch | 202 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 158 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +44 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 178 | 0.8% | 1.4% | 115 | 0.6% | 1.3% | +63 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 55 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 57 | 0.3% | 0.3% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Polish | 47 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 28 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +19 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 22,276 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 20,682 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,594 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).