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 Oberon (A) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Oberon (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Oberon (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Oberon (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
2,183
% of total
19.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,183
19.6%
-0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
2,124
% of total
19.1%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
2,124
19.1%
-1.7pp
Irish
2021 count
795
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
795
7.1%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
522
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
522
4.7%
+0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
220
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
220
2.0%
+1.9pp
German
2021 count
201
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
201
1.8%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
95
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
95
0.9%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
70
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
70
0.6%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
36
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
36
0.3%
+0.1pp
Maltese
2021 count
34
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
34
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+101
-0.2pp
Australian
-64
-1.7pp
Irish
+51
0.0pp
Scottish
+93
+0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
+205
+1.9pp
German
+36
+0.2pp
Italian
+22
+0.2pp
Dutch
-11
-0.2pp
Chinese
+14
+0.1pp
Maltese
+7
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Oberon (A). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,183 | 19.6% | 20.5% | 2,082 | 19.8% | 20.4% | +101 | -0.2pp |
| Australian | 2,124 | 19.1% | 20.1% | 2,188 | 20.8% | 21.3% | -64 | -1.7pp |
| Irish | 795 | 7.1% | 5.9% | 744 | 7.1% | 6.1% | +51 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 522 | 4.7% | 5.4% | 429 | 4.1% | 5.3% | +93 | +0.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 220 | 2.0% | 3.1% | 15 | 0.1% | 0.4% | +205 | +1.9pp |
| German | 201 | 1.8% | 2.1% | 165 | 1.6% | 2.1% | +36 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 95 | 0.9% | 1.4% | 73 | 0.7% | 1.3% | +22 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 70 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 81 | 0.8% | 0.6% | -11 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 36 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 22 | 0.2% | 0.5% | +14 | +0.1pp |
| Maltese | 34 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 27 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 11,140 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10,536 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +604 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).