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 Muswellbrook (A) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Muswellbrook (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Muswellbrook (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Muswellbrook (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Australian
2021 count
7,376
% of total
45.1%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
7,376
45.1%
-2.3pp
English
2021 count
6,442
% of total
39.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
6,442
39.4%
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,719
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
+9.9pp
1,719
10.5%
+9.9pp
Irish
2021 count
1,570
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
1,570
9.6%
-1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,443
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,443
8.8%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
596
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
596
3.6%
-0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
202
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
202
1.2%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
172
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
172
1.1%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
168
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
168
1.0%
-0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
125
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
125
0.8%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-245
-2.3pp
English
-32
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+1,628
+9.9pp
Irish
-173
-1.2pp
Scottish
+6
-0.1pp
German
-42
-0.4pp
Italian
-1
-0.1pp
Filipino
+32
+0.2pp
Dutch
-5
-0.1pp
Chinese
+12
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Muswellbrook (A). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 7,376 | 45.1% | 40.2% | 7,621 | 47.4% | 42.5% | -245 | -2.3pp |
| English | 6,442 | 39.4% | 40.9% | 6,474 | 40.2% | 40.8% | -32 | -0.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 1,719 | 10.5% | 6.1% | 91 | 0.6% | 0.8% | +1,628 | +9.9pp |
| Irish | 1,570 | 9.6% | 11.8% | 1,743 | 10.8% | 12.3% | -173 | -1.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,443 | 8.8% | 10.7% | 1,437 | 8.9% | 10.5% | +6 | -0.1pp |
| German | 596 | 3.6% | 4.2% | 638 | 4.0% | 4.3% | -42 | -0.4pp |
| Italian | 202 | 1.2% | 2.8% | 203 | 1.3% | 2.6% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 172 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 140 | 0.9% | 0.6% | +32 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 168 | 1.0% | 1.4% | 173 | 1.1% | 1.3% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Chinese | 125 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 113 | 0.7% | 1.0% | +12 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).