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 Utungun were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Utungun - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Utungun in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Nambucca (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Utungun, with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).
English
2021 count
91
% of total
46.9%
Change from 2016
+6.4pp
91
46.9%
+6.4pp
Australian
2021 count
84
% of total
43.3%
Change from 2016
-7.9pp
84
43.3%
-7.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
28
% of total
14.4%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
28
14.4%
-3.5pp
Irish
2021 count
22
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
22
11.3%
+1.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+23
+6.4pp
Australian
-2
-7.9pp
Scottish
-2
-3.5pp
Irish
+5
+1.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Utungun. 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 | 91 | 46.9% | 43.2% | 68 | 40.5% | 43.1% | +23 | +6.4pp |
| Australian | 84 | 43.3% | 41.0% | 86 | 51.2% | 44.8% | -2 | -7.9pp |
| Scottish | 28 | 14.4% | 11.2% | 30 | 17.9% | 10.5% | -2 | -3.5pp |
| Irish | 22 | 11.3% | 11.6% | 17 | 10.1% | 11.6% | +5 | +1.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).