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 West Arnhem (R) were Australian Aboriginal, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
West Arnhem (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for West Arnhem (R) 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 West Arnhem (R), with comparison markers for Regional NT.
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
5,041
% of total
40.3%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
5,041
40.3%
+6.6pp
English
2021 count
433
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
433
3.5%
+0.3pp
Australian
2021 count
408
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
408
3.3%
-2.5pp
Irish
2021 count
138
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
138
1.1%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
106
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
106
0.8%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
66
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
66
0.5%
-0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
51
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
51
0.4%
+0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
37
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
37
0.3%
+0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
29
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
29
0.2%
0.0pp
Maori
2021 count
26
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
26
0.2%
+0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
+886
+6.6pp
English
+43
+0.3pp
Australian
-305
-2.5pp
Irish
-5
-0.1pp
Scottish
+4
0.0pp
German
-10
-0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
+27
+0.2pp
Chinese
+9
+0.1pp
Filipino
+6
0.0pp
Maori
+15
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for West Arnhem (R). 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 Aboriginal | 5,041 | 40.3% | 24.6% | 4,155 | 33.7% | 19.8% | +886 | +6.6pp |
| English | 433 | 3.5% | 8.1% | 390 | 3.2% | 8.4% | +43 | +0.3pp |
| Australian | 408 | 3.3% | 8.4% | 713 | 5.8% | 11.0% | -305 | -2.5pp |
| Irish | 138 | 1.1% | 2.7% | 143 | 1.2% | 2.8% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 106 | 0.8% | 2.3% | 102 | 0.8% | 2.4% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| German | 66 | 0.5% | 1.4% | 76 | 0.6% | 1.5% | -10 | -0.1pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 51 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 24 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Chinese | 37 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 28 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +9 | +0.1pp |
| Filipino | 29 | 0.2% | 0.8% | 23 | 0.2% | 0.6% | +6 | 0.0pp |
| Maori | 26 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 11 | 0.1% | 0.4% | +15 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 12,515 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,347 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +168 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).