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 Mullumbimby were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mullumbimby - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mullumbimby in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Byron (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mullumbimby, with comparison markers for Byron (A).
English
2021 count
1,744
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
1,744
21.0%
+1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
1,268
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
-7.8pp
1,268
15.2%
-7.8pp
Irish
2021 count
671
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
671
8.1%
+2.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
538
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
538
6.5%
-5.0pp
German
2021 count
311
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
311
3.7%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
168
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-
168
2.0%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
82
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
82
1.0%
-
French
2021 count
70
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
70
0.8%
-
Polish
2021 count
66
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
66
0.8%
-
Dutch
2021 count
65
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
65
0.8%
-3.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,727
+1.5pp
Australian
+1,248
-7.8pp
Irish
+666
+2.4pp
Scottish
+528
-5.0pp
German
+308
+0.3pp
Dutch
+61
-3.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mullumbimby. 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 | 1,744 | 21.0% | 20.2% | 17 | 19.5% | 19.6% | +1,727 | +1.5pp |
| Australian | 1,268 | 15.2% | 15.0% | 20 | 23.0% | 17.0% | +1,248 | -7.8pp |
| Irish | 671 | 8.1% | 7.6% | 5 | 5.7% | 7.4% | +666 | +2.4pp |
| Scottish | 538 | 6.5% | 6.0% | 10 | 11.5% | 5.6% | +528 | -5.0pp |
| German | 311 | 3.7% | 3.1% | 3 | 3.4% | 2.7% | +308 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 168 | 2.0% | 2.1% | - | - | 1.4% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 82 | 1.0% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| French | 70 | 0.8% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| Polish | 66 | 0.8% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Dutch | 65 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 4 | 4.6% | 0.9% | +61 | -3.8pp |
| Total | 8,321 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 87 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +8,234 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).