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 Alstonvale were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Alstonvale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Alstonvale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Ballina (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Alstonvale, with comparison markers for Ballina (A).
English
2021 count
221
% of total
26.7%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
221
26.7%
+4.2pp
Australian
2021 count
144
% of total
17.4%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
144
17.4%
-1.6pp
Irish
2021 count
82
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
82
9.9%
+0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
53
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
53
6.4%
-0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
17
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
17
2.1%
+0.6pp
German
2021 count
16
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
16
1.9%
+1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
12
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
12
1.5%
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
11
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
11
1.3%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+28
+4.2pp
Australian
-19
-1.6pp
Irish
+5
+0.9pp
Scottish
-7
-0.6pp
Dutch
+4
+0.6pp
German
+8
+1.0pp
Italian
-7
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+2
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Alstonvale. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 221 | 26.7% | 22.2% | 193 | 22.5% | 21.9% | +28 | +4.2pp |
| Australian | 144 | 17.4% | 19.6% | 163 | 19.0% | 20.1% | -19 | -1.6pp |
| Irish | 82 | 9.9% | 7.2% | 77 | 9.0% | 7.3% | +5 | +0.9pp |
| Scottish | 53 | 6.4% | 6.3% | 60 | 7.0% | 6.1% | -7 | -0.6pp |
| Dutch | 17 | 2.1% | 0.8% | 13 | 1.5% | 0.7% | +4 | +0.6pp |
| German | 16 | 1.9% | 2.3% | 8 | 0.9% | 2.2% | +8 | +1.0pp |
| Italian | 12 | 1.5% | 1.6% | 19 | 2.2% | 1.4% | -7 | -0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 11 | 1.3% | 1.9% | 9 | 1.0% | 0.3% | +2 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 827 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 858 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -31 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).