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 Bexhill were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bexhill - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bexhill in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Lismore (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bexhill, with comparison markers for Lismore (C).
Australian
2021 count
220
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
220
21.0%
-0.7pp
English
2021 count
192
% of total
18.3%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
192
18.3%
+3.0pp
Irish
2021 count
70
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
70
6.7%
+1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
63
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
63
6.0%
+3.5pp
German
2021 count
28
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-
28
2.7%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
16
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
16
1.5%
-1.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
12
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
12
1.1%
-
Italian
2021 count
11
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
11
1.0%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+186
-0.7pp
English
+168
+3.0pp
Irish
+62
+1.6pp
Scottish
+59
+3.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+11
-1.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bexhill. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Lismore (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Lismore (C)% | Count | % | Lismore (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 220 | 21.0% | 19.8% | 34 | 21.7% | 20.7% | +186 | -0.7pp |
| English | 192 | 18.3% | 20.6% | 24 | 15.3% | 20.6% | +168 | +3.0pp |
| Irish | 70 | 6.7% | 7.2% | 8 | 5.1% | 7.6% | +62 | +1.6pp |
| Scottish | 63 | 6.0% | 6.1% | 4 | 2.5% | 5.8% | +59 | +3.5pp |
| German | 28 | 2.7% | 2.4% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 16 | 1.5% | 2.8% | 5 | 3.2% | 0.5% | +11 | -1.7pp |
| Dutch | 12 | 1.1% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Italian | 11 | 1.0% | 2.1% | - | - | 2.2% | - | - |
| Total | 1,049 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 157 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +892 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).