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 Katherine South were Australian Aboriginal, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Katherine South - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Katherine South in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Katherine (T) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Katherine South, with comparison markers for Katherine (T).
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
401
% of total
26.6%
Change from 2016
+20.6pp
401
26.6%
+20.6pp
Australian
2021 count
391
% of total
25.9%
Change from 2016
-11.8pp
391
25.9%
-11.8pp
English
2021 count
290
% of total
19.2%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
290
19.2%
-1.7pp
Irish
2021 count
92
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
92
6.1%
-1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
82
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
82
5.4%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
59
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
59
3.9%
-0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
39
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
39
2.6%
-0.2pp
Nepalese
2021 count
38
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
38
2.5%
+1.4pp
Indian
2021 count
29
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
29
1.9%
+0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
23
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
23
1.5%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
+312
+20.6pp
Australian
-172
-11.8pp
English
-22
-1.7pp
Irish
-25
-1.7pp
Scottish
-5
-0.4pp
German
-4
-0.3pp
Filipino
-3
-0.2pp
Nepalese
+22
+1.4pp
Indian
+6
+0.4pp
Chinese
-6
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Katherine South. 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 | |
| Australian Aboriginal | 401 | 26.6% | 23.0% | 89 | 6.0% | 8.1% | +312 | +20.6pp |
| Australian | 391 | 25.9% | 29.9% | 563 | 37.7% | 38.2% | -172 | -11.8pp |
| English | 290 | 19.2% | 24.3% | 312 | 20.9% | 24.4% | -22 | -1.7pp |
| Irish | 92 | 6.1% | 7.6% | 117 | 7.8% | 7.4% | -25 | -1.7pp |
| Scottish | 82 | 5.4% | 6.8% | 87 | 5.8% | 7.0% | -5 | -0.4pp |
| German | 59 | 3.9% | 4.3% | 63 | 4.2% | 4.2% | -4 | -0.3pp |
| Filipino | 39 | 2.6% | 3.2% | 42 | 2.8% | 2.7% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| Nepalese | 38 | 2.5% | 1.7% | 16 | 1.1% | 0.4% | +22 | +1.4pp |
| Indian | 29 | 1.9% | 1.3% | 23 | 1.5% | 1.3% | +6 | +0.4pp |
| Chinese | 23 | 1.5% | 1.1% | 29 | 1.9% | 1.4% | -6 | -0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).