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 Hay (A) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Hay (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Hay (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hay (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Australian
2021 count
1,206
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
1,206
21.0%
-2.2pp
English
2021 count
1,165
% of total
20.3%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,165
20.3%
+1.0pp
Irish
2021 count
291
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
291
5.1%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
275
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
275
4.8%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
221
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
221
3.9%
+3.6pp
Italian
2021 count
88
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
88
1.5%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
75
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
75
1.3%
+0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
27
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
27
0.5%
+0.3pp
Fijian
2021 count
19
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
19
0.3%
0.0pp
Maori
2021 count
17
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-163
-2.2pp
English
+25
+1.0pp
Irish
-48
-0.6pp
Scottish
+8
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+201
+3.6pp
Italian
-10
-0.2pp
German
+11
+0.2pp
Indian
+16
+0.3pp
Fijian
+1
0.0pp
Maori
-2
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Hay (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 | 1,206 | 21.0% | 20.1% | 1,369 | 23.2% | 21.3% | -163 | -2.2pp |
| English | 1,165 | 20.3% | 20.5% | 1,140 | 19.3% | 20.4% | +25 | +1.0pp |
| Irish | 291 | 5.1% | 5.9% | 339 | 5.7% | 6.1% | -48 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 275 | 4.8% | 5.4% | 267 | 4.5% | 5.3% | +8 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 221 | 3.9% | 3.1% | 20 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +201 | +3.6pp |
| Italian | 88 | 1.5% | 1.4% | 98 | 1.7% | 1.3% | -10 | -0.2pp |
| German | 75 | 1.3% | 2.1% | 64 | 1.1% | 2.1% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| Indian | 27 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 11 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +16 | +0.3pp |
| Fijian | 19 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 18 | 0.3% | 0.0% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Maori | 17 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 19 | 0.3% | 0.2% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 5,731 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,896 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -165 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).