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 Moorland (NSW) were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Moorland (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Moorland (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 Moorland (NSW), with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).
English
2021 count
257
% of total
49.8%
Change from 2016
+9.0pp
257
49.8%
+9.0pp
Australian
2021 count
232
% of total
45.0%
Change from 2016
-6.3pp
232
45.0%
-6.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
48
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
+8.7pp
48
9.3%
+8.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
47
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
47
9.1%
+0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
40
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
40
7.8%
-3.1pp
German
2021 count
11
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
11
2.1%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+55
+9.0pp
Australian
-22
-6.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+45
+8.7pp
Scottish
+6
+0.8pp
Irish
-14
-3.1pp
German
-3
-0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Moorland (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 | 257 | 49.8% | 43.9% | 202 | 40.8% | 44.1% | +55 | +9.0pp |
| Australian | 232 | 45.0% | 42.4% | 254 | 51.3% | 45.1% | -22 | -6.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 48 | 9.3% | 6.7% | 3 | 0.6% | 1.0% | +45 | +8.7pp |
| Scottish | 47 | 9.1% | 10.8% | 41 | 8.3% | 10.6% | +6 | +0.8pp |
| Irish | 40 | 7.8% | 11.0% | 54 | 10.9% | 10.9% | -14 | -3.1pp |
| German | 11 | 2.1% | 3.8% | 14 | 2.8% | 3.9% | -3 | -0.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).