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 Ruthven were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Ruthven - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Ruthven in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Lismore (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ruthven, with comparison markers for Lismore (C).
Australian
2021 count
56
% of total
49.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
56
49.1%
+0.6pp
English
2021 count
40
% of total
35.1%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
40
35.1%
+2.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
17
% of total
14.9%
Change from 2016
-4.5pp
17
14.9%
-4.5pp
Irish
2021 count
11
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
11
9.6%
-4.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
10
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+5.9pp
10
8.8%
+5.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+6
+0.6pp
English
+6
+2.1pp
Scottish
-3
-4.5pp
Irish
-3
-4.0pp
Dutch
+7
+5.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Ruthven. 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 | 56 | 49.1% | 39.6% | 50 | 48.5% | 41.3% | +6 | +0.6pp |
| English | 40 | 35.1% | 41.2% | 34 | 33.0% | 41.3% | +6 | +2.1pp |
| Scottish | 17 | 14.9% | 12.1% | 20 | 19.4% | 11.7% | -3 | -4.5pp |
| Irish | 11 | 9.6% | 14.3% | 14 | 13.6% | 15.2% | -3 | -4.0pp |
| Dutch | 10 | 8.8% | 1.2% | 3 | 2.9% | 1.1% | +7 | +5.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).