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 South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW) were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Nambucca (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW), with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).
English
2021 count
101
% of total
16.6%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
101
16.6%
-1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
99
% of total
16.3%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
99
16.3%
-2.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
61
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
-
61
10.0%
-
Scottish
2021 count
36
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
36
5.9%
+1.5pp
Irish
2021 count
32
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
32
5.3%
-1.2pp
German
2021 count
10
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
10
1.6%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-63
-1.2pp
Australian
-73
-2.3pp
Scottish
-5
+1.5pp
Irish
-28
-1.2pp
German
-12
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW). 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 | 101 | 16.6% | 21.6% | 164 | 17.8% | 21.5% | -63 | -1.2pp |
| Australian | 99 | 16.3% | 20.5% | 172 | 18.6% | 22.4% | -73 | -2.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 61 | 10.0% | 3.7% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| Scottish | 36 | 5.9% | 5.6% | 41 | 4.4% | 5.2% | -5 | +1.5pp |
| Irish | 32 | 5.3% | 5.8% | 60 | 6.5% | 5.8% | -28 | -1.2pp |
| German | 10 | 1.6% | 2.0% | 22 | 2.4% | 2.0% | -12 | -0.8pp |
| Total | 607 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 923 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -316 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).