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 Failford were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Failford - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Failford in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Failford, with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).
English
2021 count
342
% of total
23.0%
Change from 2016
+19.9pp
342
23.0%
+19.9pp
Australian
2021 count
310
% of total
20.8%
Change from 2016
+16.8pp
310
20.8%
+16.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
83
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+5.1pp
83
5.6%
+5.1pp
Irish
2021 count
65
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
65
4.4%
+3.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
32
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
32
2.2%
+2.2pp
German
2021 count
29
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
29
1.9%
+1.6pp
Maltese
2021 count
13
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
13
0.9%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
10
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
10
0.7%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-129
+19.9pp
Australian
-284
+16.8pp
Scottish
+10
+5.1pp
Irish
-11
+3.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
+29
+2.2pp
German
-11
+1.6pp
Maltese
-60
+0.4pp
Italian
-302
-1.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Failford. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mid-Coast (A)% | Count | % | Mid-Coast (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 342 | 23.0% | 22.0% | 471 | 3.1% | 22.1% | -129 | +19.9pp |
| Australian | 310 | 20.8% | 21.2% | 594 | 4.0% | 22.6% | -284 | +16.8pp |
| Scottish | 83 | 5.6% | 5.4% | 73 | 0.5% | 5.3% | +10 | +5.1pp |
| Irish | 65 | 4.4% | 5.5% | 76 | 0.5% | 5.4% | -11 | +3.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 32 | 2.2% | 3.4% | 3 | 0.0% | 0.5% | +29 | +2.2pp |
| German | 29 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 40 | 0.3% | 2.0% | -11 | +1.6pp |
| Maltese | 13 | 0.9% | 0.3% | 73 | 0.5% | 0.3% | -60 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 10 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 312 | 2.1% | 0.8% | -302 | -1.4pp |
| Total | 1,488 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 14,989 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -13,501 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).