Cultural diversity
Ancestry
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.
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 counts represent responses rather than a single unduplicated person count, while percentages are shown against the total population.
- 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 Unincorp. Other Territories were Australian, English and Pitcairn.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Unincorp. Other Territories - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Unincorp. Other Territories in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Other Territories and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Unincorp. Other Territories, with comparison markers for Other Territories.
Australian
English
Pitcairn
Norfolk Islander
Scottish
Irish
Australian Aboriginal
New Zealander
German
Maori
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-399
+3.5pp
English
-302
+4.8pp
Pitcairn
+68
+11.4pp
Scottish
-15
+3.2pp
Irish
-57
+1.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+47
+3.7pp
New Zealander
+31
+3.1pp
German
-41
0.0pp
Maori
+3
+0.8pp
Filipino
-38
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Unincorp. Other Territories. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Other Territories.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Other Territories% | Count | % | Other Territories% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 683 | 27.4% | 23.5% | 1,082 | 23.9% | 23.9% | -399 | +3.5pp |
| English | 635 | 25.5% | 19.0% | 937 | 20.7% | 20.7% | -302 | +4.8pp |
| Pitcairn | 550 | 22.1% | 11.5% | 482 | 10.7% | 10.7% | +68 | +11.4pp |
| Norfolk Islander | 319 | 12.8% | 6.7% | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scottish | 195 | 7.8% | 5.5% | 210 | 4.6% | 4.6% | -15 | +3.2pp |
| Irish | 151 | 6.1% | 4.6% | 208 | 4.6% | 4.6% | -57 | +1.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 146 | 5.9% | 3.1% | 99 | 2.2% | 2.2% | +47 | +3.7pp |
| New Zealander | 135 | 5.4% | 3.1% | 104 | 2.3% | 2.3% | +31 | +3.1pp |
| German | 51 | 2.0% | 1.8% | 92 | 2.0% | 2.0% | -41 | 0.0pp |
| Maori | 46 | 1.8% | 1.1% | 43 | 1.0% | 1.0% | +3 | +0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).