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 NT were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Unincorporated NT - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Unincorporated NT in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Unincorporated NT, with comparison markers for Regional NT.
Australian
2021 count
2,048
% of total
15.1%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
2,048
15.1%
-3.0pp
English
2021 count
1,838
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
1,838
13.6%
-1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
615
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
615
4.5%
+3.6pp
Irish
2021 count
524
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
524
3.9%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
486
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
486
3.6%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
225
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
225
1.7%
-0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
221
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
221
1.6%
+0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
114
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
114
0.8%
-0.3pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
108
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
108
0.8%
+0.2pp
Maori
2021 count
104
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
104
0.8%
+0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-443
-3.0pp
English
-209
-1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+494
+3.6pp
Irish
-112
-0.7pp
Scottish
-85
-0.5pp
German
-34
-0.2pp
Filipino
+111
+0.8pp
Italian
-43
-0.3pp
Vietnamese
+27
+0.2pp
Maori
+7
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Unincorporated NT. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 2,048 | 15.1% | 8.4% | 2,491 | 18.1% | 11.0% | -443 | -3.0pp |
| English | 1,838 | 13.6% | 8.1% | 2,047 | 14.9% | 8.4% | -209 | -1.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 615 | 4.5% | 24.6% | 121 | 0.9% | 19.8% | +494 | +3.6pp |
| Irish | 524 | 3.9% | 2.7% | 636 | 4.6% | 2.8% | -112 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 486 | 3.6% | 2.3% | 571 | 4.1% | 2.4% | -85 | -0.5pp |
| German | 225 | 1.7% | 1.4% | 259 | 1.9% | 1.5% | -34 | -0.2pp |
| Filipino | 221 | 1.6% | 0.8% | 110 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +111 | +0.8pp |
| Italian | 114 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 157 | 1.1% | 0.6% | -43 | -0.3pp |
| Vietnamese | 108 | 0.8% | 0.1% | 81 | 0.6% | 0.1% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Maori | 104 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 97 | 0.7% | 0.4% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 13,552 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 13,783 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -231 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).