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 Tweed (A) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Tweed (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Tweed (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Tweed (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
42,828
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
42,828
22.0%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
35,863
% of total
18.4%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
35,863
18.4%
-1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
13,574
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
13,574
7.0%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
11,479
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
11,479
5.9%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
4,304
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4,304
2.2%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
3,994
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
3,994
2.1%
+1.8pp
Italian
2021 count
2,667
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
2,667
1.4%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
1,441
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,441
0.7%
0.0pp
New Zealander
2021 count
945
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
945
0.5%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
823
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
823
0.4%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,377
+0.4pp
Australian
-212
-1.3pp
Irish
+683
-0.1pp
Scottish
+988
+0.2pp
German
+355
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+3,490
+1.8pp
Italian
+596
+0.3pp
Dutch
+149
0.0pp
New Zealander
-98
-0.1pp
Filipino
+209
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Tweed (A). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| English | 42,828 | 22.0% | 20.5% | 39,451 | 21.6% | 20.4% | +3,377 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 35,863 | 18.4% | 20.1% | 36,075 | 19.7% | 21.3% | -212 | -1.3pp |
| Irish | 13,574 | 7.0% | 5.9% | 12,891 | 7.1% | 6.1% | +683 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 11,479 | 5.9% | 5.4% | 10,491 | 5.7% | 5.3% | +988 | +0.2pp |
| German | 4,304 | 2.2% | 2.1% | 3,949 | 2.2% | 2.1% | +355 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 3,994 | 2.1% | 3.1% | 504 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +3,490 | +1.8pp |
| Italian | 2,667 | 1.4% | 1.4% | 2,071 | 1.1% | 1.3% | +596 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 1,441 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1,292 | 0.7% | 0.6% | +149 | 0.0pp |
| New Zealander | 945 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 1,043 | 0.6% | 0.3% | -98 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 823 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 614 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +209 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 194,764 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 182,714 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,050 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).