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 Rutherglen were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Rutherglen - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Rutherglen in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Indigo (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rutherglen, with comparison markers for Indigo (S).
English
2021 count
1,182
% of total
23.1%
Change from 2016
+14.3pp
1,182
23.1%
+14.3pp
Australian
2021 count
1,097
% of total
21.4%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
1,097
21.4%
-3.2pp
Irish
2021 count
413
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
413
8.1%
+1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
335
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
335
6.5%
-1.4pp
German
2021 count
159
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
159
3.1%
-2.2pp
Italian
2021 count
78
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
78
1.5%
-2.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
51
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
51
1.0%
-
Dutch
2021 count
36
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-
36
0.7%
-
Chinese
2021 count
17
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-
17
0.3%
-
Maori
2021 count
12
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-
12
0.2%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,172
+14.3pp
Australian
+1,069
-3.2pp
Irish
+405
+1.1pp
Scottish
+326
-1.4pp
German
+153
-2.2pp
Italian
+73
-2.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Rutherglen. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Indigo (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Indigo (S)% | Count | % | Indigo (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,182 | 23.1% | 21.9% | 10 | 8.8% | 20.9% | +1,172 | +14.3pp |
| Australian | 1,097 | 21.4% | 21.4% | 28 | 24.6% | 21.5% | +1,069 | -3.2pp |
| Irish | 413 | 8.1% | 7.4% | 8 | 7.0% | 6.9% | +405 | +1.1pp |
| Scottish | 335 | 6.5% | 6.3% | 9 | 7.9% | 5.9% | +326 | -1.4pp |
| German | 159 | 3.1% | 3.1% | 6 | 5.3% | 3.1% | +153 | -2.2pp |
| Italian | 78 | 1.5% | 1.2% | 5 | 4.4% | 1.1% | +73 | -2.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 51 | 1.0% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Dutch | 36 | 0.7% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| Chinese | 17 | 0.3% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Maori | 12 | 0.2% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Total | 5,125 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 114 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5,011 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).