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 Mosman were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mosman - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mosman in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mosman (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mosman, with comparison markers for Mosman (A).
English
2021 count
11,622
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
11,622
20.5%
+1.7pp
Australian
2021 count
7,582
% of total
13.4%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
7,582
13.4%
-5.0pp
Irish
2021 count
4,045
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-6.1pp
4,045
7.1%
-6.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
3,522
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
3,522
6.2%
-2.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,765
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-
1,765
3.1%
-
German
2021 count
1,152
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,152
2.0%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
1,152
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,152
2.0%
-0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
538
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
538
1.0%
-
French
2021 count
465
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
465
0.8%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
454
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
454
0.8%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+11,542
+1.7pp
Australian
+7,504
-5.0pp
Irish
+3,989
-6.1pp
Scottish
+3,487
-2.0pp
German
+1,143
-0.1pp
Italian
+1,143
-0.1pp
French
+462
+0.1pp
Dutch
+450
-0.1pp
Spanish
+258
-0.2pp
Swiss
+81
-1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mosman. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mosman (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mosman (A)% | Count | % | Mosman (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 11,622 | 20.5% | 20.5% | 80 | 18.8% | 20.1% | +11,542 | +1.7pp |
| Australian | 7,582 | 13.4% | 13.4% | 78 | 18.4% | 12.9% | +7,504 | -5.0pp |
| Irish | 4,045 | 7.1% | 7.1% | 56 | 13.2% | 7.4% | +3,989 | -6.1pp |
| Scottish | 3,522 | 6.2% | 6.2% | 35 | 8.2% | 5.9% | +3,487 | -2.0pp |
| Chinese | 1,765 | 3.1% | 3.1% | - | - | 2.5% | - | - |
| German | 1,152 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 9 | 2.1% | 2.0% | +1,143 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 1,152 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 9 | 2.1% | 1.9% | +1,143 | -0.1pp |
| Greek | 538 | 1.0% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| French | 465 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 3 | 0.7% | 0.8% | +462 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 454 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 4 | 0.9% | 0.8% | +450 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 56,602 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 425 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +56,177 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).