Forget the idea of a simple Anglo outpost; modern Australia is a vibrant tapestry where only a third of people claim English ancestry, over a quarter are born overseas, and the symphony of languages spoken in homes stretches from Mandarin and Arabic to Punjabi and Torres Strait Creole.
Key Takeaways
- 33.0% of the population reported English ancestry (2021 Census)
- 29.9% reported Australian ancestry
- 9.5% reported Irish ancestry
- 66.9% born in Australia
- 3.6% born in England
- 2.6% born in India
- 72.0% speak English only at home
- 2.7% speak Mandarin at home
- 1.4% speak Arabic at home
- 38.9% reported No religion
- 20.0% Catholic
- 9.8% Anglican
- 3.2% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (812,728 people, 2021 Census)
- 3.0% of NSW population is Indigenous
- 4.6% of QLD population is Indigenous
Australia's population is a highly diverse blend of ancestries, languages, and faiths.
Ancestry
133.0% of the population reported English ancestry (2021 Census)
Verified229.9% reported Australian ancestry
Verified39.5% reported Irish ancestry
Verified48.6% reported Scottish ancestry
Directional55.5% reported Chinese ancestry
Single source64.0% reported German ancestry
Verified74.0% reported Italian ancestry
Verified83.1% reported Indian ancestry
Verified91.7% reported Dutch ancestry
Directional101.7% reported Greek ancestry
Single source112.1% reported New Zealander ancestry
Verified121.6% reported Croatian ancestry
Verified131.3% reported Lebanese ancestry
Verified141.2% reported Polish ancestry
Directional151.0% reported Australian Aboriginal ancestry
Single source162.8% reported Filipino ancestry
Verified171.4% reported Maltese ancestry
Verified181.1% reported South African ancestry
Verified190.9% reported Macedonian ancestry
Directional200.8% reported Spanish ancestry
Single source212.4% reported Vietnamese ancestry
Verified221.5% reported Turkish ancestry
Verified231.0% reported Egyptian ancestry
Verified240.7% reported French ancestry
Directional250.6% reported Serbian ancestry
Single source263.2% reported Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestry combined
Verified270.5% reported Hungarian ancestry
Verified280.4% reported Russian ancestry
Verified290.3% reported Ukrainian ancestry
DirectionalAncestry Interpretation
Despite a third of the population claiming English roots, Australia’s family tree is a vibrant global forest, proving that a nation can honour its British past while being decisively shaped by the world.
Country of Birth
166.9% born in Australia
Verified23.6% born in England
Verified32.6% born in India
Verified42.2% born in Mainland China
Directional52.1% born in New Zealand
Single source61.7% born in the Philippines
Verified71.5% born in Vietnam
Verified81.3% born in Nepal
Verified91.2% born in Lebanon
Directional101.1% born in Italy
Single source111.0% born in South Africa
Verified121.0% born in Afghanistan
Verified130.9% born in Pakistan
Verified140.9% born in Germany
Directional150.8% born in Greece
Single source160.8% born in Malaysia
Verified170.7% born in Iraq
Verified180.7% born in Sri Lanka
Verified190.6% born in Fiji
Directional200.6% born in Iran
Single source210.5% born in Syria
Verified220.5% born in Thailand
Verified230.5% born in Indonesia
Verified240.4% born in Croatia
Directional250.4% born in Korea, South
Single source2627.6% of population born overseas (2021)
VerifiedCountry of Birth Interpretation
Australia proudly maintains a long-standing local majority while simultaneously and artfully remixing nearly every continent in real-time.
Indigenous Diversity
13.2% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (812,728 people, 2021 Census)
Verified23.0% of NSW population is Indigenous
Verified34.6% of QLD population is Indigenous
Verified42.4% of VIC population is Indigenous
Directional53.3% of WA population is Indigenous
Single source68.2% of NT population is Indigenous
Verified791% of Indigenous population identify as Aboriginal only
Verified84.2% identify as Torres Strait Islander only
Verified94.8% identify as both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Directional1038% of Indigenous population live in NSW
Single source1129% live in QLD
Verified1216% live in WA
Verified1325% of Indigenous Australians live in Greater capital city areas
Verified1437% in regional areas
Directional1537% in remote areas
Single source1650.4% of Indigenous population are female
Verified17Median age of Indigenous population is 24 years
Verified1832.6% of Indigenous Australians speak an Indigenous language at home
Verified1958% of Torres Strait Islander people speak Torres Strait Creole
Directional20Over 250 Indigenous languages spoken in Australia
Single source2118.7% of Indigenous aged 15+ have a university qualification
VerifiedIndigenous Diversity Interpretation
While these numbers showcase a vibrant and resilient culture that predates Australia itself, they also starkly illustrate the ongoing legacy of colonial disruption, with the majority of the First Nations population still living outside major cities and a median age half that of the non-Indigenous population highlighting profound disparities.
Languages
172.0% speak English only at home
Verified22.7% speak Mandarin at home
Verified31.4% speak Arabic at home
Verified41.2% speak Cantonese at home
Directional51.2% speak Vietnamese at home
Single source60.9% speak Punjabi at home
Verified70.8% speak Hindi at home
Verified80.8% speak Gujarati at home
Verified90.8% speak Italian at home
Directional100.7% speak Greek at home
Single source110.6% speak Spanish at home
Verified120.6% speak Tagalog at home
Verified130.5% speak Nepali at home
Verified140.4% speak Turkish at home
Directional150.4% speak Tamil at home
Single source160.4% speak Samoan at home
Verified170.3% speak Korean at home
Verified180.3% speak Malayalam at home
Verified190.3% speak Portuguese at home
Directional200.3% speak German at home
Single source210.3% speak Persian at home
Verified220.2% speak French at home
Verified230.2% speak Dari at home
Verified2426.2% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Directional250.2% speak Filipino/Tagalog variants at home
Single sourceLanguages Interpretation
So, while the default setting for Australian households remains stubbornly English, nearly a third of the country is quietly conducting a far more interesting and multilingual reality show behind closed doors.
Religion
138.9% reported No religion
Verified220.0% Catholic
Verified39.8% Anglican
Verified43.2% Hinduism
Directional53.1% Islam
Single source62.7% Buddhism
Verified71.9% Sikhism
Verified81.3% Christianity nfd
Verified91.2% Uniting Church
Directional101.1% Pentecostal
Single source110.9% Presbyterian and Reformed
Verified120.8% Baptist
Verified130.7% Other Protestant
Verified140.6% Eastern Orthodox
Directional150.5% Jehovah's Witnesses
Single source160.4% Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
Verified170.4% Oriental Orthodox
Verified180.3% Judaism
Verified1952.1% Christian total
Directional2043.9% have a religious affiliation
Single source210.2% Jainism
Verified220.1% Baha'i
VerifiedReligion Interpretation
In a land where the biggest faith is now 'no faith,' the remaining spiritual tapestry is a rich and crowded patchwork, with a dominant Christian quilt being steadily, and colorfully, re-threaded.