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 Bolwarra (NSW) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bolwarra (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bolwarra (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bolwarra (NSW), with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
English
2021 count
621
% of total
23.0%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
621
23.0%
+1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
552
% of total
20.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
552
20.4%
-0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
211
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
211
7.8%
+2.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
171
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
171
6.3%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
88
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
88
3.3%
+1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
51
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
51
1.9%
+1.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
30
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
30
1.1%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
22
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
22
0.8%
+0.3pp
South African
2021 count
20
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
20
0.7%
+0.6pp
Maori
2021 count
14
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
14
0.5%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-288
+1.5pp
Australian
-346
-0.8pp
Irish
-34
+2.0pp
Scottish
-86
+0.2pp
German
+5
+1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+29
+1.4pp
Dutch
-4
+0.3pp
Italian
0
+0.3pp
South African
+17
+0.6pp
Maori
+2
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bolwarra (NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 621 | 23.0% | 21.5% | 909 | 21.5% | 21.9% | -288 | +1.5pp |
| Australian | 552 | 20.4% | 22.2% | 898 | 21.2% | 22.8% | -346 | -0.8pp |
| Irish | 211 | 7.8% | 5.3% | 245 | 5.8% | 6.2% | -34 | +2.0pp |
| Scottish | 171 | 6.3% | 5.2% | 257 | 6.1% | 5.4% | -86 | +0.2pp |
| German | 88 | 3.3% | 2.2% | 83 | 2.0% | 2.4% | +5 | +1.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 51 | 1.9% | 3.6% | 22 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +29 | +1.4pp |
| Dutch | 30 | 1.1% | 0.6% | 34 | 0.8% | 0.6% | -4 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 22 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 22 | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0 | +0.3pp |
| South African | 20 | 0.7% | 0.2% | 3 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +17 | +0.6pp |
| Maori | 14 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 12 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +2 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 2,703 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,234 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -1,531 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).