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 Swan Hill (RC) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Swan Hill (RC) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Swan Hill (RC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Swan Hill (RC), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Australian
2021 count
7,630
% of total
17.8%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
7,630
17.8%
-1.4pp
English
2021 count
7,076
% of total
16.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
7,076
16.5%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
2,175
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,175
5.1%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,789
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,789
4.2%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
1,615
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,615
3.8%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
878
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
878
2.1%
+1.8pp
German
2021 count
800
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
800
1.9%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
614
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
614
1.4%
+0.7pp
Malay
2021 count
436
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
436
1.0%
+0.8pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
354
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
354
0.8%
+0.3pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-274
-1.4pp
English
+429
+0.3pp
Irish
+55
-0.1pp
Scottish
+98
+0.1pp
Italian
+83
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+737
+1.8pp
German
+30
0.0pp
Chinese
+309
+0.7pp
Malay
+369
+0.8pp
Vietnamese
+135
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Swan Hill (RC). 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 | |
| Australian | 7,630 | 17.8% | 19.6% | 7,904 | 19.2% | 20.0% | -274 | -1.4pp |
| English | 7,076 | 16.5% | 20.3% | 6,647 | 16.2% | 20.0% | +429 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 2,175 | 5.1% | 6.4% | 2,120 | 5.2% | 6.5% | +55 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 1,789 | 4.2% | 5.8% | 1,691 | 4.1% | 5.7% | +98 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 1,615 | 3.8% | 1.9% | 1,532 | 3.7% | 1.8% | +83 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 878 | 2.1% | 1.0% | 141 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +737 | +1.8pp |
| German | 800 | 1.9% | 2.3% | 770 | 1.9% | 2.3% | +30 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 614 | 1.4% | 0.6% | 305 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +309 | +0.7pp |
| Malay | 436 | 1.0% | 0.1% | 67 | 0.2% | 0.0% | +369 | +0.8pp |
| Vietnamese | 354 | 0.8% | 0.1% | 219 | 0.5% | 0.1% | +135 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 42,785 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 41,133 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,652 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).