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 Horsham (RC) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Horsham (RC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Horsham (RC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Horsham (RC), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Australian
2021 count
8,635
% of total
21.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
8,635
21.1%
+0.4pp
English
2021 count
8,509
% of total
20.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
8,509
20.8%
+0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,274
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
2,274
5.6%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
2,110
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,110
5.2%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
2,081
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,081
5.1%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
583
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
583
1.4%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
345
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
345
0.8%
+0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
300
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
300
0.7%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
208
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
208
0.5%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
181
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
181
0.4%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+519
+0.4pp
English
+458
+0.3pp
Scottish
-78
-0.4pp
German
+6
-0.2pp
Irish
-4
-0.2pp
Italian
+49
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+302
+0.7pp
Dutch
+21
0.0pp
Indian
+51
+0.1pp
Filipino
+48
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Horsham (RC). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 8,635 | 21.1% | 19.6% | 8,116 | 20.7% | 20.0% | +519 | +0.4pp |
| English | 8,509 | 20.8% | 20.3% | 8,051 | 20.5% | 20.0% | +458 | +0.3pp |
| Scottish | 2,274 | 5.6% | 5.8% | 2,352 | 6.0% | 5.7% | -78 | -0.4pp |
| German | 2,110 | 5.2% | 2.3% | 2,104 | 5.4% | 2.3% | +6 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 2,081 | 5.1% | 6.4% | 2,085 | 5.3% | 6.5% | -4 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 583 | 1.4% | 1.9% | 534 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +49 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 345 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 43 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +302 | +0.7pp |
| Dutch | 300 | 0.7% | 1.1% | 279 | 0.7% | 1.1% | +21 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 208 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 157 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +51 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 181 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 133 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +48 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 40,837 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 39,275 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,562 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).