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 Taree South were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Taree South - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Taree South in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Taree South, with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).
English
2021 count
144
% of total
22.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
144
22.8%
+0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
143
% of total
22.7%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
143
22.7%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
37
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
37
5.9%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
24
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
24
3.8%
-3.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
18
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
18
2.9%
+2.6pp
German
2021 count
16
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
16
2.5%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
15
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
15
2.4%
+1.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-885
+0.6pp
Australian
-955
-1.0pp
Scottish
-215
+0.5pp
Irish
-304
-3.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+3
+2.6pp
German
-85
+0.3pp
Dutch
-6
+1.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Taree South. 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 | 144 | 22.8% | 22.0% | 1,029 | 22.2% | 22.1% | -885 | +0.6pp |
| Australian | 143 | 22.7% | 21.2% | 1,098 | 23.7% | 22.6% | -955 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 37 | 5.9% | 5.4% | 252 | 5.4% | 5.3% | -215 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 24 | 3.8% | 5.5% | 328 | 7.1% | 5.4% | -304 | -3.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 18 | 2.9% | 3.4% | 15 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +3 | +2.6pp |
| German | 16 | 2.5% | 1.9% | 101 | 2.2% | 2.0% | -85 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 15 | 2.4% | 0.6% | 21 | 0.5% | 0.6% | -6 | +1.9pp |
| Total | 631 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,628 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -3,997 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).