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 Rowsley were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Rowsley - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Rowsley in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moorabool (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rowsley, with comparison markers for Moorabool (S).
English
2021 count
84
% of total
36.4%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
84
36.4%
-4.2pp
Australian
2021 count
64
% of total
27.7%
Change from 2016
-17.6pp
64
27.7%
-17.6pp
Irish
2021 count
25
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
25
10.8%
+1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
21
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
-6.0pp
21
9.1%
-6.0pp
German
2021 count
13
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
13
5.6%
+3.5pp
Syrian
2021 count
10
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-
10
4.3%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+6
-4.2pp
Australian
-23
-17.6pp
Irish
+7
+1.4pp
Scottish
-8
-6.0pp
German
+9
+3.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Rowsley. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moorabool (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Moorabool (S)% | Count | % | Moorabool (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 84 | 36.4% | 38.8% | 78 | 40.6% | 39.4% | +6 | -4.2pp |
| Australian | 64 | 27.7% | 39.2% | 87 | 45.3% | 39.9% | -23 | -17.6pp |
| Irish | 25 | 10.8% | 13.2% | 18 | 9.4% | 14.5% | +7 | +1.4pp |
| Scottish | 21 | 9.1% | 11.4% | 29 | 15.1% | 11.2% | -8 | -6.0pp |
| German | 13 | 5.6% | 4.3% | 4 | 2.1% | 4.5% | +9 | +3.5pp |
| Syrian | 10 | 4.3% | 0.0% | - | - | - | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).