Ancestry explained Place Forecast Feature

Abbreviated as ANCP; referenced by 3 other explainers

Ancestry shows the cultural or ethnic background people name on the Census form. The Census asks them to use their parents' and grandparents' origins as a guide.

These figures are Place Forecast estimates based on Census data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

People could give up to two ancestries in the 2021 Census. A person who gave two is counted in both categories. So the total counts ancestry responses, and it can be larger than the number of people. Percentages on this page use the total ancestry response count as their base.

Ancestry is how people describe their own background. It is not a fixed or genetic measure.

Ancestry and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status come from separate Census questions. For the count of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, see the First Nations marker. Read the two on their own.

All other categories includes ancestry responses not shown as separate categories for the area.

Not stated means ancestry was not provided.

The ancestry responses relate to people at their usual residence. They include residents of non-private dwellings, such as hospitals, aged-care homes, hostels and student housing. Overseas visitors are excluded.

Reading this data fairly

These figures show how people answered Census questions. Here are the equity caveats to keep in mind. They keep the numbers fair:

• Ancestry is one of the Census topics used in CALD analysis. On its own it is not a measure of need.
• Being in the All other categories group reflects the area's size and mix, not a community's importance.
• For the Australian Aboriginal ancestry row, Place Forecast does not estimate values for small areas where the ABS published none, in line with Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles.

See the marker methodology for how these figures are calculated and their limitations.