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 Edinburgh were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Edinburgh - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Edinburgh in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Edinburgh, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
English
2021 count
157
% of total
41.8%
Change from 2016
+7.2pp
157
41.8%
+7.2pp
Australian
2021 count
150
% of total
39.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
150
39.9%
+0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
47
% of total
12.5%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
47
12.5%
+1.8pp
Irish
2021 count
42
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
42
11.2%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
20
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
20
5.3%
+2.0pp
Italian
2021 count
19
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
19
5.1%
+2.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
16
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-
16
4.3%
-
Chinese
2021 count
13
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
13
3.5%
+2.4pp
Indian
2021 count
11
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
11
2.9%
+1.8pp
Dutch
2021 count
10
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
10
2.7%
+1.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+63
+7.2pp
Australian
+44
+0.9pp
Scottish
+18
+1.8pp
Irish
+12
+0.2pp
German
+11
+2.0pp
Italian
+11
+2.2pp
Chinese
+10
+2.4pp
Indian
+8
+1.8pp
Dutch
+6
+1.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Edinburgh. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Salisbury (C)% | Count | % | Salisbury (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 157 | 41.8% | 30.8% | 94 | 34.6% | 33.2% | +63 | +7.2pp |
| Australian | 150 | 39.9% | 27.0% | 106 | 39.0% | 29.3% | +44 | +0.9pp |
| Scottish | 47 | 12.5% | 5.6% | 29 | 10.7% | 6.2% | +18 | +1.8pp |
| Irish | 42 | 11.2% | 5.1% | 30 | 11.0% | 6.0% | +12 | +0.2pp |
| German | 20 | 5.3% | 5.1% | 9 | 3.3% | 5.8% | +11 | +2.0pp |
| Italian | 19 | 5.1% | 4.8% | 8 | 2.9% | 5.2% | +11 | +2.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 16 | 4.3% | 2.3% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Chinese | 13 | 3.5% | 2.8% | 3 | 1.1% | 3.0% | +10 | +2.4pp |
| Indian | 11 | 2.9% | 4.0% | 3 | 1.1% | 3.1% | +8 | +1.8pp |
| Dutch | 10 | 2.7% | 1.2% | 4 | 1.5% | 1.3% | +6 | +1.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).