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 North Macksville were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
North Macksville - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for North Macksville in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Nambucca (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for North Macksville, with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).
English
2021 count
313
% of total
46.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
313
46.8%
+1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
273
% of total
40.8%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
273
40.8%
-5.0pp
Irish
2021 count
78
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
78
11.7%
+1.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
68
% of total
10.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
68
10.2%
+2.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
42
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+5.0pp
42
6.3%
+5.0pp
German
2021 count
25
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
25
3.7%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
11
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
11
1.6%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+43
+1.6pp
Australian
-1
-5.0pp
Irish
+16
+1.3pp
Scottish
+20
+2.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+34
+5.0pp
German
+3
0.0pp
Italian
0
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for North Macksville. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 313 | 46.8% | 43.2% | 270 | 45.2% | 43.1% | +43 | +1.6pp |
| Australian | 273 | 40.8% | 41.0% | 274 | 45.8% | 44.8% | -1 | -5.0pp |
| Irish | 78 | 11.7% | 11.6% | 62 | 10.4% | 11.6% | +16 | +1.3pp |
| Scottish | 68 | 10.2% | 11.2% | 48 | 8.0% | 10.5% | +20 | +2.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 42 | 6.3% | 7.4% | 8 | 1.3% | 1.8% | +34 | +5.0pp |
| German | 25 | 3.7% | 4.0% | 22 | 3.7% | 3.9% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 11 | 1.6% | 1.8% | 11 | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).