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 Wherrol Flat were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wherrol Flat - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wherrol Flat in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wherrol Flat, with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).
English
2021 count
149
% of total
45.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
149
45.3%
+0.5pp
Australian
2021 count
134
% of total
40.7%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
134
40.7%
-1.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
56
% of total
17.0%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
56
17.0%
+4.8pp
Irish
2021 count
28
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
28
8.5%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
19
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-
19
5.8%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+6
+0.5pp
Australian
0
-1.3pp
Scottish
+17
+4.8pp
Irish
0
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wherrol Flat. 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 | 149 | 45.3% | 43.9% | 143 | 44.8% | 44.1% | +6 | +0.5pp |
| Australian | 134 | 40.7% | 42.4% | 134 | 42.0% | 45.1% | 0 | -1.3pp |
| Scottish | 56 | 17.0% | 10.8% | 39 | 12.2% | 10.6% | +17 | +4.8pp |
| Irish | 28 | 8.5% | 11.0% | 28 | 8.8% | 10.9% | 0 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 19 | 5.8% | 6.7% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).