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 Way Way were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Way Way - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Way Way in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Nambucca (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Way Way, with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).
English
2021 count
131
% of total
49.4%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
131
49.4%
-5.0pp
Australian
2021 count
94
% of total
35.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
94
35.5%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
38
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
38
14.3%
+0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
38
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
38
14.3%
+1.7pp
German
2021 count
14
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
14
5.3%
-1.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
10
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
10
3.8%
+1.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1
-5.0pp
Australian
+10
+0.4pp
Scottish
+6
+0.9pp
Irish
+8
+1.7pp
German
-2
-1.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+4
+1.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Way Way. 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 | 131 | 49.4% | 43.2% | 130 | 54.4% | 43.1% | +1 | -5.0pp |
| Australian | 94 | 35.5% | 41.0% | 84 | 35.1% | 44.8% | +10 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 38 | 14.3% | 11.2% | 32 | 13.4% | 10.5% | +6 | +0.9pp |
| Irish | 38 | 14.3% | 11.6% | 30 | 12.6% | 11.6% | +8 | +1.7pp |
| German | 14 | 5.3% | 4.0% | 16 | 6.7% | 3.9% | -2 | -1.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 10 | 3.8% | 7.4% | 6 | 2.5% | 1.8% | +4 | +1.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).