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 Northern Midlands (M) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Northern Midlands (M) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Northern Midlands (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northern Midlands (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
English
2021 count
6,525
% of total
23.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
6,525
23.8%
+0.9pp
Australian
2021 count
6,164
% of total
22.4%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
6,164
22.4%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,374
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
1,374
5.0%
+0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
1,241
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,241
4.5%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
438
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
438
1.6%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
419
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
419
1.5%
+1.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
288
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
288
1.0%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
184
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
184
0.7%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
81
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
81
0.3%
+0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
58
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
58
0.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+678
+0.9pp
Australian
+184
-1.0pp
Scottish
+293
+0.8pp
Irish
+86
0.0pp
German
+75
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+402
+1.4pp
Dutch
+56
+0.1pp
Italian
+24
+0.1pp
Chinese
+38
+0.1pp
Welsh
+13
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Northern Midlands (M). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 6,525 | 23.8% | 22.3% | 5,847 | 22.9% | 22.3% | +678 | +0.9pp |
| Australian | 6,164 | 22.4% | 21.3% | 5,980 | 23.4% | 22.5% | +184 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,374 | 5.0% | 4.7% | 1,081 | 4.2% | 4.6% | +293 | +0.8pp |
| Irish | 1,241 | 4.5% | 4.9% | 1,155 | 4.5% | 5.1% | +86 | 0.0pp |
| German | 438 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 363 | 1.4% | 1.7% | +75 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 419 | 1.5% | 2.7% | 17 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +402 | +1.4pp |
| Dutch | 288 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 232 | 0.9% | 1.0% | +56 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 184 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 160 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +24 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 81 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 43 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +38 | +0.1pp |
| Welsh | 58 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 45 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +13 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 27,465 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 25,571 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,894 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).