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 (NSW) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Hay (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Hay (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Hay (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hay (NSW), with comparison markers for Hay (A).
English
2021 count
964
% of total
41.9%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
964
41.9%
+3.1pp
Australian
2021 count
957
% of total
41.6%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
957
41.6%
-4.6pp
Irish
2021 count
221
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
221
9.6%
-1.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
216
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
216
9.4%
+0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
189
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+7.6pp
189
8.2%
+7.6pp
Italian
2021 count
72
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
72
3.1%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
62
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
62
2.7%
+0.7pp
Indian
2021 count
24
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
24
1.0%
+0.5pp
Fijian
2021 count
20
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
20
0.9%
+0.4pp
Maori
2021 count
19
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
19
0.8%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+30
+3.1pp
Australian
-154
-4.6pp
Irish
-56
-1.9pp
Scottish
+7
+0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+174
+7.6pp
Italian
+1
+0.1pp
German
+13
+0.7pp
Indian
+12
+0.5pp
Fijian
+8
+0.4pp
Maori
+4
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Hay (NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Hay (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Hay (A)% | Count | % | Hay (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 964 | 41.9% | 40.4% | 934 | 38.8% | 38.7% | +30 | +3.1pp |
| Australian | 957 | 41.6% | 41.8% | 1,111 | 46.2% | 46.5% | -154 | -4.6pp |
| Irish | 221 | 9.6% | 10.1% | 277 | 11.5% | 11.5% | -56 | -1.9pp |
| Scottish | 216 | 9.4% | 9.5% | 209 | 8.7% | 9.1% | +7 | +0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 189 | 8.2% | 7.7% | 15 | 0.6% | 0.7% | +174 | +7.6pp |
| Italian | 72 | 3.1% | 3.1% | 71 | 3.0% | 3.3% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| German | 62 | 2.7% | 2.6% | 49 | 2.0% | 2.2% | +13 | +0.7pp |
| Indian | 24 | 1.0% | 0.9% | 12 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +12 | +0.5pp |
| Fijian | 20 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 12 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +8 | +0.4pp |
| Maori | 19 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 15 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +4 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).