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 Litchfield (M) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Litchfield (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Litchfield (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Darwin and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Litchfield (M), with comparison markers for Greater Darwin.
Australian
2021 count
8,361
% of total
19.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
8,361
19.5%
-0.2pp
English
2021 count
7,398
% of total
17.3%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
7,398
17.3%
+1.8pp
Irish
2021 count
1,962
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,962
4.6%
-0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,895
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,895
4.4%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,547
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
1,547
3.6%
+3.0pp
German
2021 count
1,058
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,058
2.5%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
461
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
461
1.1%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
367
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
367
0.9%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
287
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
287
0.7%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
237
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
237
0.6%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-1,028
-0.2pp
English
-11
+1.8pp
Irish
-373
-0.3pp
Scottish
-68
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+1,280
+3.0pp
German
-48
+0.2pp
Italian
-13
+0.1pp
Dutch
-22
+0.1pp
Chinese
-7
+0.1pp
Filipino
-67
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Litchfield (M). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 8,361 | 19.5% | 14.4% | 9,389 | 19.7% | 16.4% | -1,028 | -0.2pp |
| English | 7,398 | 17.3% | 13.8% | 7,409 | 15.5% | 14.3% | -11 | +1.8pp |
| Irish | 1,962 | 4.6% | 4.3% | 2,335 | 4.9% | 4.9% | -373 | -0.3pp |
| Scottish | 1,895 | 4.4% | 3.7% | 1,963 | 4.1% | 3.9% | -68 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 1,547 | 3.6% | 4.5% | 267 | 0.6% | 0.8% | +1,280 | +3.0pp |
| German | 1,058 | 2.5% | 2.1% | 1,106 | 2.3% | 2.2% | -48 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 461 | 1.1% | 1.2% | 474 | 1.0% | 1.1% | -13 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 367 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 389 | 0.8% | 0.7% | -22 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 287 | 0.7% | 2.1% | 294 | 0.6% | 2.0% | -7 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 237 | 0.6% | 2.5% | 304 | 0.6% | 2.1% | -67 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 42,768 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 47,724 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -4,956 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).