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 Black Forest were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Black Forest - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Black Forest in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Unley (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Black Forest, with comparison markers for Unley (C).
English
2021 count
730
% of total
36.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
730
36.8%
+1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
638
% of total
32.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
638
32.2%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
216
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
216
10.9%
+0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
191
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
191
9.6%
+0.9pp
German
2021 count
164
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
164
8.3%
+1.1pp
Greek
2021 count
120
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
120
6.1%
+1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
92
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
92
4.6%
+0.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
67
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
67
3.4%
-1.7pp
Indian
2021 count
66
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
66
3.3%
+1.2pp
Nepalese
2021 count
45
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
45
2.3%
+1.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+50
+1.6pp
Australian
+11
-0.2pp
Irish
+20
+0.8pp
Scottish
+23
+0.9pp
German
+25
+1.1pp
Greek
+28
+1.3pp
Italian
+13
+0.5pp
Chinese
-31
-1.7pp
Indian
+25
+1.2pp
Nepalese
+27
+1.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Black Forest. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Unley (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Unley (C)% | Count | % | Unley (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 730 | 36.8% | 37.5% | 680 | 35.2% | 36.9% | +50 | +1.6pp |
| Australian | 638 | 32.2% | 29.5% | 627 | 32.4% | 29.3% | +11 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 216 | 10.9% | 10.1% | 196 | 10.1% | 10.3% | +20 | +0.8pp |
| Scottish | 191 | 9.6% | 10.7% | 168 | 8.7% | 10.1% | +23 | +0.9pp |
| German | 164 | 8.3% | 7.9% | 139 | 7.2% | 7.7% | +25 | +1.1pp |
| Greek | 120 | 6.1% | 5.5% | 92 | 4.8% | 5.4% | +28 | +1.3pp |
| Italian | 92 | 4.6% | 6.5% | 79 | 4.1% | 6.1% | +13 | +0.5pp |
| Chinese | 67 | 3.4% | 5.9% | 98 | 5.1% | 6.0% | -31 | -1.7pp |
| Indian | 66 | 3.3% | 2.6% | 41 | 2.1% | 2.4% | +25 | +1.2pp |
| Nepalese | 45 | 2.3% | 0.6% | 18 | 0.9% | 0.3% | +27 | +1.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).