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 Pyrenees (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Pyrenees (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Pyrenees (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Pyrenees (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
3,195
% of total
20.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,195
20.8%
+0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
3,047
% of total
19.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
3,047
19.9%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
952
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
952
6.2%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
940
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
940
6.1%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
259
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
259
1.7%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
160
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
160
1.0%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
147
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
147
1.0%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
105
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
105
0.7%
+0.6pp
Maltese
2021 count
51
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
51
0.3%
-0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
48
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
48
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+199
+0.1pp
Australian
+227
+0.4pp
Scottish
+102
+0.3pp
Irish
+33
-0.2pp
German
+41
+0.2pp
Dutch
+22
0.0pp
Italian
+20
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+94
+0.6pp
Maltese
-6
-0.1pp
Welsh
+9
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Pyrenees (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,195 | 20.8% | 20.3% | 2,996 | 20.7% | 20.0% | +199 | +0.1pp |
| Australian | 3,047 | 19.9% | 19.6% | 2,820 | 19.5% | 20.0% | +227 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 952 | 6.2% | 5.8% | 850 | 5.9% | 5.7% | +102 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 940 | 6.1% | 6.4% | 907 | 6.3% | 6.5% | +33 | -0.2pp |
| German | 259 | 1.7% | 2.3% | 218 | 1.5% | 2.3% | +41 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 160 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 138 | 1.0% | 1.1% | +22 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 147 | 1.0% | 1.9% | 127 | 0.9% | 1.8% | +20 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 105 | 0.7% | 1.0% | 11 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +94 | +0.6pp |
| Maltese | 51 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 57 | 0.4% | 0.3% | -6 | -0.1pp |
| Welsh | 48 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 39 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +9 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 15,328 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 14,470 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +858 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).