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 Penrose were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Penrose - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Penrose in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wingecarribee (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Penrose, with comparison markers for Wingecarribee (A).
English
2021 count
135
% of total
51.3%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
135
51.3%
+3.1pp
Australian
2021 count
107
% of total
40.7%
Change from 2016
+6.3pp
107
40.7%
+6.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
35
% of total
13.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
35
13.3%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
31
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
31
11.8%
-2.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+16
+3.1pp
Australian
+22
+6.3pp
Scottish
+3
+0.3pp
Irish
-3
-2.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Penrose. 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 | 135 | 51.3% | 44.4% | 119 | 48.2% | 44.4% | +16 | +3.1pp |
| Australian | 107 | 40.7% | 37.6% | 85 | 34.4% | 38.6% | +22 | +6.3pp |
| Scottish | 35 | 13.3% | 13.3% | 32 | 13.0% | 12.8% | +3 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 31 | 11.8% | 13.8% | 34 | 13.8% | 13.7% | -3 | -2.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).