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 Lennox Head were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lennox Head - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lennox Head in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Ballina (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lennox Head, with comparison markers for Ballina (A).
English
2021 count
3,409
% of total
44.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,409
44.3%
+0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
2,802
% of total
36.5%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
2,802
36.5%
-2.2pp
Irish
2021 count
1,285
% of total
16.7%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
1,285
16.7%
-1.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,099
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
1,099
14.3%
+1.2pp
German
2021 count
390
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
390
5.1%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
283
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
283
3.7%
+0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
163
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
163
2.1%
+1.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
148
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
148
1.9%
+0.4pp
French
2021 count
79
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
79
1.0%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
76
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
76
1.0%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+613
+0.1pp
Australian
+354
-2.2pp
Irish
+133
-1.5pp
Scottish
+272
+1.2pp
German
+64
-0.1pp
Italian
+103
+0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
+151
+1.9pp
Dutch
+52
+0.4pp
French
+23
+0.1pp
Chinese
+15
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lennox Head. 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 | 3,409 | 44.3% | 44.4% | 2,796 | 44.2% | 43.9% | +613 | +0.1pp |
| Australian | 2,802 | 36.5% | 39.3% | 2,448 | 38.7% | 40.1% | +354 | -2.2pp |
| Irish | 1,285 | 16.7% | 14.4% | 1,152 | 18.2% | 14.6% | +133 | -1.5pp |
| Scottish | 1,099 | 14.3% | 12.6% | 827 | 13.1% | 12.1% | +272 | +1.2pp |
| German | 390 | 5.1% | 4.6% | 326 | 5.2% | 4.4% | +64 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 283 | 3.7% | 3.3% | 180 | 2.8% | 2.9% | +103 | +0.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 163 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 12 | 0.2% | 0.6% | +151 | +1.9pp |
| Dutch | 148 | 1.9% | 1.5% | 96 | 1.5% | 1.4% | +52 | +0.4pp |
| French | 79 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 56 | 0.9% | 0.7% | +23 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 76 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 61 | 1.0% | 0.7% | +15 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).