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 Woodberry were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Woodberry - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Woodberry in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Woodberry, with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,411
% of total
46.7%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
1,411
46.7%
+2.1pp
English
2021 count
1,268
% of total
41.9%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
1,268
41.9%
-3.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
426
% of total
14.1%
Change from 2016
+13.2pp
426
14.1%
+13.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
247
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
247
8.2%
-1.6pp
Irish
2021 count
223
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
223
7.4%
-1.7pp
German
2021 count
99
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
99
3.3%
-0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
43
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
43
1.4%
-0.1pp
Tongan
2021 count
37
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
37
1.2%
-0.1pp
Maori
2021 count
35
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
35
1.2%
+0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
31
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
31
1.0%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+75
+2.1pp
English
-87
-3.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+399
+13.2pp
Scottish
-46
-1.6pp
Irish
-49
-1.7pp
German
-19
-0.6pp
Italian
-2
-0.1pp
Tongan
-2
-0.1pp
Maori
+12
+0.4pp
Filipino
-2
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Woodberry. 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 | |
| Australian | 1,411 | 46.7% | 44.3% | 1,336 | 44.6% | 45.6% | +75 | +2.1pp |
| English | 1,268 | 41.9% | 43.1% | 1,355 | 45.3% | 43.9% | -87 | -3.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 426 | 14.1% | 7.2% | 27 | 0.9% | 0.5% | +399 | +13.2pp |
| Scottish | 247 | 8.2% | 10.5% | 293 | 9.8% | 10.8% | -46 | -1.6pp |
| Irish | 223 | 7.4% | 10.7% | 272 | 9.1% | 12.3% | -49 | -1.7pp |
| German | 99 | 3.3% | 4.3% | 118 | 3.9% | 4.7% | -19 | -0.6pp |
| Italian | 43 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 45 | 1.5% | 1.5% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Tongan | 37 | 1.2% | 0.1% | 39 | 1.3% | 0.1% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Maori | 35 | 1.2% | 0.5% | 23 | 0.8% | 0.5% | +12 | +0.4pp |
| Filipino | 31 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 33 | 1.1% | 0.7% | -2 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).