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
19.2%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
2,432
19.2%
-2.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,644
% of total
13.0%
Change from 2016
-13.4pp
1,644
13.0%
-13.4pp
Irish
2021 count
921
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-
921
7.3%
-
Scottish
2021 count
696
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
696
5.5%
+0.9pp
German
2021 count
393
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
393
3.1%
-3.8pp
Italian
2021 count
372
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-
372
2.9%
-
Spanish
2021 count
155
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
155
1.2%
-
French
2021 count
149
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
149
1.2%
-
Dutch
2021 count
126
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
126
1.0%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
113
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-
113
0.9%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,413
-2.6pp
Australian
+1,621
-13.4pp
Scottish
+692
+0.9pp
German
+387
-3.8pp
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 | 19.2% | 20.2% | 19 | 21.8% | 19.6% | +2,413 | -2.6pp |
| Australian | 1,644 | 13.0% | 15.0% | 23 | 26.4% | 17.0% | +1,621 | -13.4pp |
| Irish | 921 | 7.3% | 7.6% | - | - | 7.4% | - | - |
| Scottish | 696 | 5.5% | 6.0% | 4 | 4.6% | 5.6% | +692 | +0.9pp |
| German | 393 | 3.1% | 3.1% | 6 | 6.9% | 2.7% | +387 | -3.8pp |
| Italian | 372 | 2.9% | 2.1% | - | - | 1.4% | - | - |
| Spanish | 155 | 1.2% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| French | 149 | 1.2% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| Dutch | 126 | 1.0% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 113 | 0.9% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Total | 12,659 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 87 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,572 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).