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 Launceston (C) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Launceston (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Launceston (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Launceston (C), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
English
2021 count
30,253
% of total
43.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
30,253
43.2%
-0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
28,099
% of total
40.1%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
28,099
40.1%
-1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
6,652
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
6,652
9.5%
-0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
6,557
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
6,557
9.4%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
2,655
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
2,655
3.8%
+3.4pp
German
2021 count
2,467
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,467
3.5%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
1,548
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,548
2.2%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,474
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,474
2.1%
+0.3pp
Nepalese
2021 count
1,405
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,405
2.0%
+1.4pp
Italian
2021 count
1,102
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,102
1.6%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,691
-0.6pp
Australian
+997
-1.4pp
Irish
-91
-0.8pp
Scottish
+512
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+2,404
+3.4pp
German
+163
0.0pp
Dutch
+169
+0.1pp
Chinese
+326
+0.3pp
Nepalese
+981
+1.4pp
Italian
+182
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Launceston (C). 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 | 30,253 | 43.2% | 44.6% | 28,562 | 43.8% | 44.6% | +1,691 | -0.6pp |
| Australian | 28,099 | 40.1% | 42.7% | 27,102 | 41.5% | 45.0% | +997 | -1.4pp |
| Irish | 6,652 | 9.5% | 9.7% | 6,743 | 10.3% | 10.2% | -91 | -0.8pp |
| Scottish | 6,557 | 9.4% | 9.5% | 6,045 | 9.3% | 9.2% | +512 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 2,655 | 3.8% | 5.4% | 251 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +2,404 | +3.4pp |
| German | 2,467 | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2,304 | 3.5% | 3.4% | +163 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 1,548 | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1,379 | 2.1% | 2.1% | +169 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 1,474 | 2.1% | 1.0% | 1,148 | 1.8% | 0.8% | +326 | +0.3pp |
| Nepalese | 1,405 | 2.0% | 0.8% | 424 | 0.6% | 0.2% | +981 | +1.4pp |
| Italian | 1,102 | 1.6% | 1.2% | 920 | 1.4% | 1.2% | +182 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).