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 Huon Valley (M) were English, Australian and Irish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Huon Valley (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Huon Valley (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Huon Valley (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..

Huon Valley (M)
Regional Tas.

English

2021 count

8,236

% of total

22.6%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Australian

2021 count

7,243

% of total

19.9%

Change from 2016

-1.6pp

Irish

2021 count

2,275

% of total

6.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Scottish

2021 count

1,820

% of total

5.0%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

1,569

% of total

4.3%

Change from 2016

+4.1pp

German

2021 count

848

% of total

2.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Dutch

2021 count

410

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Italian

2021 count

239

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Welsh

2021 count

140

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

New Zealander

2021 count

124

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Ancestry for Huon Valley (M). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..

Ancestry for Huon Valley (M). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
Ancestry for Huon Valley (M). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Tas.%Count%Regional Tas.%Countpp
English8,23622.6%22.3%7,28422.5%22.3%+952+0.1pp
Australian7,24319.9%21.3%6,94421.5%22.5%+299-1.6pp
Irish2,2756.2%4.9%2,0046.2%5.1%+2710.0pp
Scottish1,8205.0%4.7%1,4934.6%4.6%+327+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal1,5694.3%2.7%650.2%0.2%+1,504+4.1pp
German8482.3%1.7%7652.4%1.7%+83-0.1pp
Dutch4101.1%1.1%3171.0%1.0%+93+0.1pp
Italian2390.7%0.6%1710.5%0.6%+68+0.2pp
Welsh1400.4%0.3%1300.4%0.3%+100.0pp
New Zealander1240.3%0.2%1010.3%0.2%+230.0pp
Total36,477100.0%100.0%32,372100.0%100.0%+4,1050.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).