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 Lansdowne (Mid-Coast - NSW) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lansdowne (Mid-Coast - NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lansdowne (Mid-Coast - NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lansdowne (Mid-Coast - NSW), with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).
English
2021 count
269
% of total
22.6%
Change from 2016
+12.8pp
269
22.6%
+12.8pp
Australian
2021 count
258
% of total
21.7%
Change from 2016
+7.1pp
258
21.7%
+7.1pp
Irish
2021 count
72
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
72
6.1%
-1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
49
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-
49
4.1%
-
Scottish
2021 count
42
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-18.5pp
42
3.5%
-18.5pp
German
2021 count
21
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-15.3pp
21
1.8%
-15.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+265
+12.8pp
Australian
+252
+7.1pp
Irish
+69
-1.2pp
Scottish
+33
-18.5pp
German
+14
-15.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lansdowne (Mid-Coast - NSW). 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 | 269 | 22.6% | 22.0% | 4 | 9.8% | 22.1% | +265 | +12.8pp |
| Australian | 258 | 21.7% | 21.2% | 6 | 14.6% | 22.6% | +252 | +7.1pp |
| Irish | 72 | 6.1% | 5.5% | 3 | 7.3% | 5.4% | +69 | -1.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 49 | 4.1% | 3.4% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Scottish | 42 | 3.5% | 5.4% | 9 | 22.0% | 5.3% | +33 | -18.5pp |
| German | 21 | 1.8% | 1.9% | 7 | 17.1% | 2.0% | +14 | -15.3pp |
| Total | 1,189 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 41 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,148 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).