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 Gunnedah (A) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Gunnedah (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Gunnedah (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 Gunnedah (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Australian
2021 count
5,890
% of total
22.8%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
5,890
22.8%
-2.8pp
English
2021 count
4,911
% of total
19.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
4,911
19.0%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,866
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+6.7pp
1,866
7.2%
+6.7pp
Irish
2021 count
1,368
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,368
5.3%
-0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,229
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,229
4.8%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
487
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
487
1.9%
-0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
106
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
106
0.4%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
103
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
103
0.4%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
101
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
101
0.4%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
87
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
87
0.3%
-0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-373
-2.8pp
English
+314
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+1,741
+6.7pp
Irish
+8
-0.3pp
Scottish
+65
0.0pp
German
-76
-0.4pp
Filipino
+45
+0.2pp
Italian
-4
0.0pp
Dutch
-6
0.0pp
Chinese
-10
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Gunnedah (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 | 5,890 | 22.8% | 20.1% | 6,263 | 25.6% | 21.3% | -373 | -2.8pp |
| English | 4,911 | 19.0% | 20.5% | 4,597 | 18.8% | 20.4% | +314 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 1,866 | 7.2% | 3.1% | 125 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +1,741 | +6.7pp |
| Irish | 1,368 | 5.3% | 5.9% | 1,360 | 5.6% | 6.1% | +8 | -0.3pp |
| Scottish | 1,229 | 4.8% | 5.4% | 1,164 | 4.8% | 5.3% | +65 | 0.0pp |
| German | 487 | 1.9% | 2.1% | 563 | 2.3% | 2.1% | -76 | -0.4pp |
| Filipino | 106 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 61 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +45 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 103 | 0.4% | 1.4% | 107 | 0.4% | 1.3% | -4 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 101 | 0.4% | 0.7% | 107 | 0.4% | 0.6% | -6 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 87 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 97 | 0.4% | 0.5% | -10 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 25,850 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 24,425 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,425 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).