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 Horn were Torres Strait Islander, Australian Aboriginal and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Horn - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Horn in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Torres (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Horn, with comparison markers for Torres (S).
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
339
% of total
32.0%
Change from 2016
+32.0pp
339
32.0%
+32.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
165
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
+15.4pp
165
15.6%
+15.4pp
Australian
2021 count
64
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-11.0pp
64
6.0%
-11.0pp
English
2021 count
59
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-13.3pp
59
5.6%
-13.3pp
Papua New Guinean
2021 count
39
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
39
3.7%
+3.6pp
Irish
2021 count
19
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-6.6pp
19
1.8%
-6.6pp
German
2021 count
15
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
15
1.4%
-1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
13
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
13
1.2%
-4.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
10
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
10
0.9%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Torres Strait Islander
+333
+32.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+129
+15.4pp
Australian
-2,684
-11.0pp
English
-2,996
-13.3pp
Papua New Guinean
+27
+3.6pp
Irish
-1,332
-6.6pp
German
-468
-1.6pp
Scottish
-881
-4.3pp
Dutch
-115
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Horn. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Torres (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Torres (S)% | Count | % | Torres (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Torres Strait Islander | 339 | 32.0% | 32.2% | 6 | 0.0% | 19.5% | +333 | +32.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 165 | 15.6% | 11.2% | 36 | 0.2% | 6.1% | +129 | +15.4pp |
| Australian | 64 | 6.0% | 7.9% | 2,748 | 17.0% | 14.9% | -2,684 | -11.0pp |
| English | 59 | 5.6% | 5.8% | 3,055 | 18.9% | 5.4% | -2,996 | -13.3pp |
| Papua New Guinean | 39 | 3.7% | 1.6% | 12 | 0.1% | 1.5% | +27 | +3.6pp |
| Irish | 19 | 1.8% | 2.0% | 1,351 | 8.4% | 2.3% | -1,332 | -6.6pp |
| German | 15 | 1.4% | 0.9% | 483 | 3.0% | 0.9% | -468 | -1.6pp |
| Scottish | 13 | 1.2% | 2.0% | 894 | 5.5% | 1.9% | -881 | -4.3pp |
| Dutch | 10 | 0.9% | 0.4% | 125 | 0.8% | 0.2% | -115 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 1,060 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 16,171 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -15,111 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).