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 Unincorporated ACT were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Unincorporated ACT - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Unincorporated ACT in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Australian Capital Territory and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Unincorporated ACT, with comparison markers for Australian Capital Territory.
English
2021 count
145,139
% of total
16.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
145,139
16.0%
-0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
143,169
% of total
15.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
143,169
15.8%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
52,606
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
52,606
5.8%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
45,404
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
45,404
5.0%
-0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
26,028
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
26,028
2.9%
+0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
20,371
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
20,371
2.2%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
19,068
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
19,068
2.1%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
15,211
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
15,211
1.7%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
8,592
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
8,592
0.9%
+0.8pp
Dutch
2021 count
7,812
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
7,812
0.9%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+13,268
-0.6pp
Australian
+16,043
-0.2pp
Irish
+1,049
-0.7pp
Scottish
+5,284
-0.1pp
Chinese
+3,583
+0.1pp
Indian
+5,827
+0.4pp
German
+1,456
-0.1pp
Italian
+2,243
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+7,533
+0.8pp
Dutch
+1,323
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Unincorporated ACT. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Australian Capital Territory.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | pp | |
| English | 145,139 | 16.0% | 16.0% | 131,871 | 16.6% | 16.6% | +13,268 | -0.6pp |
| Australian | 143,169 | 15.8% | 15.8% | 127,126 | 16.0% | 16.0% | +16,043 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 52,606 | 5.8% | 5.8% | 51,557 | 6.5% | 6.5% | +1,049 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 45,404 | 5.0% | 5.0% | 40,120 | 5.1% | 5.1% | +5,284 | -0.1pp |
| Chinese | 26,028 | 2.9% | 2.9% | 22,445 | 2.8% | 2.8% | +3,583 | +0.1pp |
| Indian | 20,371 | 2.2% | 2.2% | 14,544 | 1.8% | 1.8% | +5,827 | +0.4pp |
| German | 19,068 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 17,612 | 2.2% | 2.2% | +1,456 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 15,211 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 12,968 | 1.6% | 1.6% | +2,243 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 8,592 | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1,059 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +7,533 | +0.8pp |
| Dutch | 7,812 | 0.9% | 0.9% | 6,489 | 0.8% | 0.8% | +1,323 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 907,709 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 793,683 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +114,026 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).