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 Saltwater River were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Saltwater River - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Saltwater River in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Tasman (M) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Saltwater River, with comparison markers for Tasman (M).
Australian
2021 count
65
% of total
49.6%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
65
49.6%
-3.2pp
English
2021 count
46
% of total
35.1%
Change from 2016
-9.6pp
46
35.1%
-9.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
15
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
15
11.5%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
15
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
+5.8pp
15
11.5%
+5.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
11
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-
11
8.4%
-
German
2021 count
10
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
10
7.6%
+5.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
0
-3.2pp
English
-9
-9.6pp
Scottish
+1
+0.1pp
Irish
+8
+5.8pp
German
+7
+5.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Saltwater River. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Tasman (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Tasman (M)% | Count | % | Tasman (M)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 65 | 49.6% | 39.2% | 65 | 52.8% | 43.7% | 0 | -3.2pp |
| English | 46 | 35.1% | 43.0% | 55 | 44.7% | 43.4% | -9 | -9.6pp |
| Scottish | 15 | 11.5% | 10.3% | 14 | 11.4% | 9.2% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 15 | 11.5% | 10.5% | 7 | 5.7% | 9.1% | +8 | +5.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 11 | 8.4% | 5.6% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| German | 10 | 7.6% | 3.8% | 3 | 2.4% | 2.9% | +7 | +5.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).