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 Gloucester were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Gloucester - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Gloucester in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gloucester, with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).
English
2021 count
1,429
% of total
45.6%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
1,429
45.6%
+3.4pp
Australian
2021 count
1,415
% of total
45.2%
Change from 2016
-7.9pp
1,415
45.2%
-7.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
385
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
385
12.3%
+1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
320
% of total
10.2%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
320
10.2%
+1.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
232
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+6.3pp
232
7.4%
+6.3pp
German
2021 count
112
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
112
3.6%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
41
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
41
1.3%
+0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
22
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
22
0.7%
+0.4pp
Welsh
2021 count
18
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
18
0.6%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
18
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
18
0.6%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+174
+3.4pp
Australian
-166
-7.9pp
Scottish
+58
+1.3pp
Irish
+47
+1.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+198
+6.3pp
German
+9
+0.1pp
Italian
+15
+0.4pp
Filipino
+13
+0.4pp
Welsh
-1
0.0pp
Chinese
+1
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Gloucester. 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 | 1,429 | 45.6% | 43.9% | 1,255 | 42.2% | 44.1% | +174 | +3.4pp |
| Australian | 1,415 | 45.2% | 42.4% | 1,581 | 53.1% | 45.1% | -166 | -7.9pp |
| Scottish | 385 | 12.3% | 10.8% | 327 | 11.0% | 10.6% | +58 | +1.3pp |
| Irish | 320 | 10.2% | 11.0% | 273 | 9.2% | 10.9% | +47 | +1.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 232 | 7.4% | 6.7% | 34 | 1.1% | 1.0% | +198 | +6.3pp |
| German | 112 | 3.6% | 3.8% | 103 | 3.5% | 3.9% | +9 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 41 | 1.3% | 1.7% | 26 | 0.9% | 1.5% | +15 | +0.4pp |
| Filipino | 22 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 9 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +13 | +0.4pp |
| Welsh | 18 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 19 | 0.6% | 0.6% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 18 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 17 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +1 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).