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 Edith (NT) (part) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Edith (NT) (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Edith (NT) (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Katherine (T) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Edith (NT) (part), with comparison markers for Katherine (T).
English
2021 count
66
% of total
17.7%
Change from 2016
+6.1pp
66
17.7%
+6.1pp
Australian
2021 count
52
% of total
14.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
52
14.0%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
16
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
16
4.3%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
15
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
15
4.0%
+3.2pp
German
2021 count
11
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
11
3.0%
+1.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+23
+6.1pp
Australian
+1
+0.3pp
Irish
+1
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+12
+3.2pp
German
+5
+1.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Edith (NT) (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Katherine (T).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Katherine (T)% | Count | % | Katherine (T)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 66 | 17.7% | 12.2% | 43 | 11.6% | 12.2% | +23 | +6.1pp |
| Australian | 52 | 14.0% | 15.0% | 51 | 13.7% | 19.1% | +1 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 16 | 4.3% | 3.8% | 15 | 4.0% | 3.7% | +1 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 15 | 4.0% | 11.5% | 3 | 0.8% | 4.1% | +12 | +3.2pp |
| German | 11 | 3.0% | 2.2% | 6 | 1.6% | 2.1% | +5 | +1.4pp |
| Total | 372 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 372 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).