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 King Island (M) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
King Island (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for King Island (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for King Island (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
English
2021 count
675
% of total
21.1%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
675
21.1%
+1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
656
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
656
20.5%
+0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
154
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
154
4.8%
-0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
146
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
146
4.6%
-0.8pp
German
2021 count
69
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
69
2.2%
-0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
52
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
52
1.6%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
37
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
37
1.2%
+1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
37
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
37
1.2%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
23
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
23
0.7%
-0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
18
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
18
0.6%
+0.2pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+48
+1.2pp
Australian
+13
+0.1pp
Scottish
-22
-0.8pp
Irish
-25
-0.8pp
German
-15
-0.5pp
Dutch
+6
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+33
+1.1pp
Italian
-4
-0.1pp
Filipino
-4
-0.2pp
New Zealander
+6
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for King Island (M). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 675 | 21.1% | 22.3% | 627 | 19.9% | 22.3% | +48 | +1.2pp |
| Australian | 656 | 20.5% | 21.3% | 643 | 20.4% | 22.5% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| Scottish | 154 | 4.8% | 4.7% | 176 | 5.6% | 4.6% | -22 | -0.8pp |
| Irish | 146 | 4.6% | 4.9% | 171 | 5.4% | 5.1% | -25 | -0.8pp |
| German | 69 | 2.2% | 1.7% | 84 | 2.7% | 1.7% | -15 | -0.5pp |
| Dutch | 52 | 1.6% | 1.1% | 46 | 1.5% | 1.0% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 37 | 1.2% | 2.7% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +33 | +1.1pp |
| Italian | 37 | 1.2% | 0.6% | 41 | 1.3% | 0.6% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 23 | 0.7% | 0.3% | 27 | 0.9% | 0.2% | -4 | -0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 18 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 12 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 3,193 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,152 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +41 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).