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 Wirrabara were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wirrabara - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wirrabara in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mount Remarkable (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wirrabara, with comparison markers for Mount Remarkable (DC).
English
2021 count
173
% of total
49.0%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
173
49.0%
+4.3pp
Australian
2021 count
120
% of total
34.0%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
120
34.0%
-4.2pp
German
2021 count
68
% of total
19.3%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
68
19.3%
+0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
28
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
28
7.9%
-1.8pp
Irish
2021 count
23
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
23
6.5%
-1.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
12
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
12
3.4%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-7
+4.3pp
Australian
-34
-4.2pp
German
-6
+0.9pp
Scottish
-11
-1.8pp
Irish
-11
-1.9pp
Dutch
-1
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wirrabara. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Remarkable (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mount Remarkable (DC)% | Count | % | Mount Remarkable (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 173 | 49.0% | 42.6% | 180 | 44.7% | 41.4% | -7 | +4.3pp |
| Australian | 120 | 34.0% | 40.6% | 154 | 38.2% | 42.4% | -34 | -4.2pp |
| German | 68 | 19.3% | 12.1% | 74 | 18.4% | 12.8% | -6 | +0.9pp |
| Scottish | 28 | 7.9% | 11.5% | 39 | 9.7% | 10.7% | -11 | -1.8pp |
| Irish | 23 | 6.5% | 8.0% | 34 | 8.4% | 7.8% | -11 | -1.9pp |
| Dutch | 12 | 3.4% | 1.5% | 13 | 3.2% | 1.1% | -1 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).