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 No usual address (ACT) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
No usual address (ACT) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for No usual address (ACT) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Australian Capital Territory and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for No usual address (ACT), with comparison markers for Australian Capital Territory.
Australian
2021 count
181
% of total
29.9%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
181
29.9%
+1.5pp
English
2021 count
153
% of total
25.3%
Change from 2016
-4.4pp
153
25.3%
-4.4pp
Irish
2021 count
51
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
51
8.4%
-1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
48
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
48
7.9%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
35
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
35
5.8%
+4.5pp
German
2021 count
32
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
32
5.3%
+1.0pp
Indian
2021 count
19
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
19
3.1%
+1.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
18
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
18
3.0%
-2.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
11
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
11
1.8%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
11
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
11
1.8%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+28
+1.5pp
English
-7
-4.4pp
Irish
-4
-1.8pp
Scottish
+7
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+28
+4.5pp
German
+9
+1.0pp
Indian
+10
+1.4pp
Chinese
-10
-2.2pp
Dutch
0
-0.2pp
Italian
+1
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for No usual address (ACT). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Australian Capital Territory.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 181 | 29.9% | 31.5% | 153 | 28.4% | 32.0% | +28 | +1.5pp |
| English | 153 | 25.3% | 32.0% | 160 | 29.7% | 33.2% | -7 | -4.4pp |
| Irish | 51 | 8.4% | 11.6% | 55 | 10.2% | 13.0% | -4 | -1.8pp |
| Scottish | 48 | 7.9% | 10.0% | 41 | 7.6% | 10.1% | +7 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 35 | 5.8% | 1.9% | 7 | 1.3% | 0.3% | +28 | +4.5pp |
| German | 32 | 5.3% | 4.2% | 23 | 4.3% | 4.4% | +9 | +1.0pp |
| Indian | 19 | 3.1% | 4.5% | 9 | 1.7% | 3.7% | +10 | +1.4pp |
| Chinese | 18 | 3.0% | 5.7% | 28 | 5.2% | 5.7% | -10 | -2.2pp |
| Dutch | 11 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 11 | 2.0% | 1.6% | 0 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 11 | 1.8% | 3.4% | 10 | 1.9% | 3.3% | +1 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).