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 Nimbin were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Nimbin - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Nimbin in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Lismore (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Nimbin, with comparison markers for Lismore (C).
English
2021 count
610
% of total
38.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
610
38.0%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
406
% of total
25.3%
Change from 2016
-6.4pp
406
25.3%
-6.4pp
Irish
2021 count
253
% of total
15.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
253
15.7%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
221
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
221
13.8%
+1.4pp
German
2021 count
105
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
105
6.5%
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
84
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
84
5.2%
+4.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
44
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
44
2.7%
+0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
41
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
41
2.6%
+0.1pp
French
2021 count
18
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
18
1.1%
-0.2pp
Welsh
2021 count
15
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
15
0.9%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+47
-0.1pp
Australian
-62
-6.4pp
Irish
+8
-0.9pp
Scottish
+38
+1.4pp
German
+17
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+80
+4.9pp
Dutch
+17
+0.9pp
Italian
+4
+0.1pp
French
-1
-0.2pp
Welsh
-2
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Nimbin. 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 | |
| English | 610 | 38.0% | 41.2% | 563 | 38.1% | 41.3% | +47 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 406 | 25.3% | 39.6% | 468 | 31.7% | 41.3% | -62 | -6.4pp |
| Irish | 253 | 15.7% | 14.3% | 245 | 16.6% | 15.2% | +8 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 221 | 13.8% | 12.1% | 183 | 12.4% | 11.7% | +38 | +1.4pp |
| German | 105 | 6.5% | 4.8% | 88 | 6.0% | 4.7% | +17 | +0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 84 | 5.2% | 5.6% | 4 | 0.3% | 0.9% | +80 | +4.9pp |
| Dutch | 44 | 2.7% | 1.2% | 27 | 1.8% | 1.1% | +17 | +0.9pp |
| Italian | 41 | 2.6% | 4.3% | 37 | 2.5% | 4.4% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| French | 18 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 19 | 1.3% | 0.6% | -1 | -0.2pp |
| Welsh | 15 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 17 | 1.2% | 0.6% | -2 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).