1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2008  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 07/02/2007  Ceased
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Contents >> Culture and the Arts >> Cultural and natural heritage >> Ethnic and cultural identity

An individual’s background or place of origin is a major component of cultural identity. It provides a sense of membership and belonging. Cultural identity is that which gives us a sense of ourselves.


PEOPLE OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ORIGIN

The 2001 Census recorded 15,773 people who identified as being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin. This represents an increase of 1,900 people (or 14.0%) since 1996. Changing social attitudes, political developments and improved statistical coverage are all factors that have contributed to the increased likelihood of people identifying as being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.

More ABS statistics on Tasmania's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population can be found at 2001 Census Community Profile Series: Tasmania.


MULTICULTURAL TASMANIA

The 2001 Census count recorded the number of people in Tasmania who were born overseas (including overseas visitors who were in Tasmania on census night) as 45,375 (9.9%). The three main countries of birth were the United Kingdom (21,306 or 4.7%), New Zealand (3,590 or 0.8%) and the Netherlands (2,483 or 0.6%).

In Tasmania, English was the only language spoken at home by 421,034 people (93.0%) in 2001. The three most common languages spoken at home other than English were Italian, 1,464 (0.3%), German, 1,363 (0.3%) and Chinese Languages, 1,342 (0.3%).

More ABS statistics on Tasmania's multicultural population can be found at 2001 Census Community Profile Series: Tasmania.

Further information can be found on the Department of Premier and Cabinet web site http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au.



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