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 Byron Bay were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Byron Bay - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Byron Bay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Byron (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Byron Bay, with comparison markers for Byron (A).
English
2021 count
2,432
% of total
38.4%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
2,432
38.4%
+1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
1,644
% of total
26.0%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
1,644
26.0%
-2.4pp
Irish
2021 count
921
% of total
14.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
921
14.5%
+0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
696
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
696
11.0%
+1.3pp
German
2021 count
393
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
393
6.2%
+1.7pp
Italian
2021 count
372
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
372
5.9%
+2.7pp
Spanish
2021 count
155
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
155
2.4%
+1.7pp
French
2021 count
149
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
149
2.4%
+1.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
126
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
126
2.0%
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
113
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
113
1.8%
+1.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+396
+1.5pp
Australian
+74
-2.4pp
Irish
+163
+0.8pp
Scottish
+160
+1.3pp
German
+142
+1.7pp
Italian
+196
+2.7pp
Spanish
+114
+1.7pp
French
+75
+1.1pp
Dutch
+38
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+98
+1.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Byron Bay. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Byron (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Byron (A)% | Count | % | Byron (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,432 | 38.4% | 40.3% | 2,036 | 36.9% | 39.2% | +396 | +1.5pp |
| Australian | 1,644 | 26.0% | 30.0% | 1,570 | 28.4% | 33.9% | +74 | -2.4pp |
| Irish | 921 | 14.5% | 15.3% | 758 | 13.7% | 14.8% | +163 | +0.8pp |
| Scottish | 696 | 11.0% | 12.0% | 536 | 9.7% | 11.2% | +160 | +1.3pp |
| German | 393 | 6.2% | 6.1% | 251 | 4.5% | 5.4% | +142 | +1.7pp |
| Italian | 372 | 5.9% | 4.2% | 176 | 3.2% | 2.8% | +196 | +2.7pp |
| Spanish | 155 | 2.4% | 1.1% | 41 | 0.7% | 0.6% | +114 | +1.7pp |
| French | 149 | 2.4% | 1.9% | 74 | 1.3% | 1.3% | +75 | +1.1pp |
| Dutch | 126 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 88 | 1.6% | 1.8% | +38 | +0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 113 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 15 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +98 | +1.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).