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 Venn were English, Australian and Ni-Vanuatu.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Venn - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Venn in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Katherine (T) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Venn, with comparison markers for Katherine (T).
English
2021 count
62
% of total
32.8%
Change from 2016
+23.1pp
62
32.8%
+23.1pp
Australian
2021 count
41
% of total
21.7%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
41
21.7%
+2.2pp
Ni-Vanuatu
2021 count
33
% of total
17.5%
Change from 2016
-
33
17.5%
-
Timorese
2021 count
15
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
-
15
7.9%
-
Scottish
2021 count
10
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
10
5.3%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+47
+23.1pp
Australian
+11
+2.2pp
Scottish
+3
+0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Venn. 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 | 62 | 32.8% | 24.3% | 15 | 9.7% | 24.4% | +47 | +23.1pp |
| Australian | 41 | 21.7% | 29.9% | 30 | 19.5% | 38.2% | +11 | +2.2pp |
| Ni-Vanuatu | 33 | 17.5% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Timorese | 15 | 7.9% | 0.3% | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scottish | 10 | 5.3% | 6.8% | 7 | 4.5% | 7.0% | +3 | +0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).