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 Walkamin were Australian, English and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Walkamin - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Walkamin in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Tablelands (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Walkamin, with comparison markers for Tablelands (R).
Australian
2021 count
218
% of total
41.0%
Change from 2016
-9.2pp
218
41.0%
-9.2pp
English
2021 count
194
% of total
36.5%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
194
36.5%
+3.4pp
Italian
2021 count
53
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
53
10.0%
-2.2pp
Irish
2021 count
52
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
52
9.8%
+4.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
43
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
43
8.1%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
29
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
29
5.5%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
13
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
13
2.4%
+1.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-20
-9.2pp
English
+37
+3.4pp
Italian
-5
-2.2pp
Irish
+25
+4.1pp
Scottish
+8
+0.7pp
German
+3
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+10
+1.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Walkamin. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Tablelands (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Tablelands (R)% | Count | % | Tablelands (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 218 | 41.0% | 37.1% | 238 | 50.2% | 41.2% | -20 | -9.2pp |
| English | 194 | 36.5% | 38.3% | 157 | 33.1% | 38.6% | +37 | +3.4pp |
| Italian | 53 | 10.0% | 5.8% | 58 | 12.2% | 6.0% | -5 | -2.2pp |
| Irish | 52 | 9.8% | 12.5% | 27 | 5.7% | 12.9% | +25 | +4.1pp |
| Scottish | 43 | 8.1% | 10.7% | 35 | 7.4% | 11.1% | +8 | +0.7pp |
| German | 29 | 5.5% | 6.1% | 26 | 5.5% | 6.0% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 13 | 2.4% | 6.8% | 3 | 0.6% | 0.9% | +10 | +1.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).