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 Owen were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Owen - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Owen in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wakefield (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Owen, with comparison markers for Wakefield (DC).
Australian
2021 count
246
% of total
24.4%
Change from 2016
+8.1pp
246
24.4%
+8.1pp
English
2021 count
243
% of total
24.1%
Change from 2016
+5.3pp
243
24.1%
+5.3pp
Irish
2021 count
61
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
61
6.0%
+2.7pp
German
2021 count
50
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
50
5.0%
+1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
35
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
35
3.5%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
14
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
14
1.4%
+1.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-1,890
+8.1pp
English
-2,225
+5.3pp
Irish
-370
+2.7pp
German
-374
+1.8pp
Scottish
-380
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
-16
+1.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Owen. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wakefield (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wakefield (DC)% | Count | % | Wakefield (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 246 | 24.4% | 23.1% | 2,136 | 16.3% | 22.4% | -1,890 | +8.1pp |
| English | 243 | 24.1% | 22.0% | 2,468 | 18.8% | 21.2% | -2,225 | +5.3pp |
| Irish | 61 | 6.0% | 3.8% | 431 | 3.3% | 3.8% | -370 | +2.7pp |
| German | 50 | 5.0% | 5.2% | 424 | 3.2% | 5.5% | -374 | +1.8pp |
| Scottish | 35 | 3.5% | 4.6% | 415 | 3.2% | 5.0% | -380 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 14 | 1.4% | 1.4% | 30 | 0.2% | 0.1% | -16 | +1.2pp |
| Total | 1,010 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 13,114 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -12,104 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).