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 Barwang were English, Irish and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Barwang - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Barwang in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Hilltops (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Barwang, with comparison markers for Hilltops (A).
English
2021 count
58
% of total
21.8%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
58
21.8%
-1.7pp
Irish
2021 count
38
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
38
14.3%
+1.1pp
Australian
2021 count
36
% of total
13.5%
Change from 2016
-14.4pp
36
13.5%
-14.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
34
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
+6.9pp
34
12.8%
+6.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+42
-1.7pp
Irish
+29
+1.1pp
Australian
+17
-14.4pp
Scottish
+30
+6.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Barwang. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Hilltops (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Hilltops (A)% | Count | % | Hilltops (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 58 | 21.8% | 20.6% | 16 | 23.5% | 20.6% | +42 | -1.7pp |
| Irish | 38 | 14.3% | 7.0% | 9 | 13.2% | 7.4% | +29 | +1.1pp |
| Australian | 36 | 13.5% | 22.0% | 19 | 27.9% | 23.7% | +17 | -14.4pp |
| Scottish | 34 | 12.8% | 4.8% | 4 | 5.9% | 4.6% | +30 | +6.9pp |
| Total | 266 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 68 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +198 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).