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
22.2%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
3,409
22.2%
+2.6pp
Australian
2021 count
2,802
% of total
18.3%
Change from 2016
-4.4pp
2,802
18.3%
-4.4pp
Irish
2021 count
1,285
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
1,285
8.4%
+3.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,099
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
1,099
7.2%
+2.0pp
German
2021 count
390
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
390
2.5%
+1.5pp
Italian
2021 count
283
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
283
1.8%
-1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
163
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
163
1.1%
-
Dutch
2021 count
148
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
148
1.0%
-
French
2021 count
79
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-
79
0.5%
-
Chinese
2021 count
76
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-
76
0.5%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,352
+2.6pp
Australian
+2,736
-4.4pp
Irish
+1,271
+3.6pp
Scottish
+1,084
+2.0pp
German
+387
+1.5pp
Italian
+274
-1.3pp
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 | 22.2% | 22.2% | 57 | 19.6% | 21.9% | +3,352 | +2.6pp |
| Australian | 2,802 | 18.3% | 19.6% | 66 | 22.7% | 20.1% | +2,736 | -4.4pp |
| Irish | 1,285 | 8.4% | 7.2% | 14 | 4.8% | 7.3% | +1,271 | +3.6pp |
| Scottish | 1,099 | 7.2% | 6.3% | 15 | 5.2% | 6.1% | +1,084 | +2.0pp |
| German | 390 | 2.5% | 2.3% | 3 | 1.0% | 2.2% | +387 | +1.5pp |
| Italian | 283 | 1.8% | 1.6% | 9 | 3.1% | 1.4% | +274 | -1.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 163 | 1.1% | 1.9% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Dutch | 148 | 1.0% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| French | 79 | 0.5% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Chinese | 76 | 0.5% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Total | 15,329 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 291 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +15,038 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).