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 Colo Vale were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Colo Vale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Colo Vale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wingecarribee (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Colo Vale, with comparison markers for Wingecarribee (A).
English
2021 count
810
% of total
45.6%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
810
45.6%
+2.3pp
Australian
2021 count
741
% of total
41.7%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
741
41.7%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
229
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
229
12.9%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
212
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
212
11.9%
-1.6pp
German
2021 count
89
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
89
5.0%
+1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
74
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-
74
4.2%
-
Italian
2021 count
52
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
52
2.9%
-0.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
30
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
30
1.7%
+0.6pp
French
2021 count
24
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
24
1.4%
+0.6pp
Welsh
2021 count
19
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
19
1.1%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+109
+2.3pp
Australian
+50
-1.0pp
Scottish
+21
0.0pp
Irish
-6
-1.6pp
German
+29
+1.3pp
Italian
-2
-0.4pp
Maltese
+12
+0.6pp
French
+11
+0.6pp
Welsh
0
-0.1pp
Dutch
+1
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Colo Vale. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wingecarribee (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wingecarribee (A)% | Count | % | Wingecarribee (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 810 | 45.6% | 44.4% | 701 | 43.3% | 44.4% | +109 | +2.3pp |
| Australian | 741 | 41.7% | 37.6% | 691 | 42.7% | 38.6% | +50 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 229 | 12.9% | 13.3% | 208 | 12.9% | 12.8% | +21 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 212 | 11.9% | 13.8% | 218 | 13.5% | 13.7% | -6 | -1.6pp |
| German | 89 | 5.0% | 4.0% | 60 | 3.7% | 4.0% | +29 | +1.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 74 | 4.2% | 2.3% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Italian | 52 | 2.9% | 3.2% | 54 | 3.3% | 2.8% | -2 | -0.4pp |
| Maltese | 30 | 1.7% | 0.7% | 18 | 1.1% | 0.6% | +12 | +0.6pp |
| French | 24 | 1.4% | 0.8% | 13 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +11 | +0.6pp |
| Welsh | 19 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 19 | 1.2% | 0.8% | 0 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).