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 Cowirra were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cowirra - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cowirra in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid Murray (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cowirra, with comparison markers for Mid Murray (DC).
English
2021 count
78
% of total
50.3%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
78
50.3%
+4.6pp
Australian
2021 count
50
% of total
32.3%
Change from 2016
-6.3pp
50
32.3%
-6.3pp
German
2021 count
27
% of total
17.4%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
27
17.4%
-1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
13
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
13
8.4%
-2.3pp
Irish
2021 count
11
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
11
7.1%
+2.1pp
Italian
2021 count
11
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-
11
7.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+14
+4.6pp
Australian
-4
-6.3pp
German
+1
-1.2pp
Scottish
-2
-2.3pp
Irish
+4
+2.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cowirra. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid Murray (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mid Murray (DC)% | Count | % | Mid Murray (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 78 | 50.3% | 42.0% | 64 | 45.7% | 40.5% | +14 | +4.6pp |
| Australian | 50 | 32.3% | 39.1% | 54 | 38.6% | 39.6% | -4 | -6.3pp |
| German | 27 | 17.4% | 15.8% | 26 | 18.6% | 17.7% | +1 | -1.2pp |
| Scottish | 13 | 8.4% | 8.5% | 15 | 10.7% | 8.2% | -2 | -2.3pp |
| Irish | 11 | 7.1% | 6.7% | 7 | 5.0% | 6.6% | +4 | +2.1pp |
| Italian | 11 | 7.1% | 1.3% | - | - | 1.4% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).