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 Stratford (Qld) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Stratford (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Stratford (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Stratford (Qld), with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
502
% of total
21.2%
Change from 2016
-5.4pp
502
21.2%
-5.4pp
Australian
2021 count
392
% of total
16.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
392
16.6%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
185
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
185
7.8%
+3.1pp
Irish
2021 count
183
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
-
183
7.7%
-
German
2021 count
71
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-12.6pp
71
3.0%
-12.6pp
Italian
2021 count
53
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-
53
2.2%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
42
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
42
1.8%
-
Dutch
2021 count
23
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
23
1.0%
-
Welsh
2021 count
20
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
20
0.8%
-
Maori
2021 count
17
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-
17
0.7%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+485
-5.4pp
Australian
+381
-0.6pp
Scottish
+182
+3.1pp
German
+61
-12.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Stratford (Qld). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 502 | 21.2% | 17.2% | 17 | 26.6% | 17.5% | +485 | -5.4pp |
| Australian | 392 | 16.6% | 15.0% | 11 | 17.2% | 17.3% | +381 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 185 | 7.8% | 4.7% | 3 | 4.7% | 4.7% | +182 | +3.1pp |
| Irish | 183 | 7.7% | 5.2% | - | - | 5.8% | - | - |
| German | 71 | 3.0% | 2.6% | 10 | 15.6% | 2.7% | +61 | -12.6pp |
| Italian | 53 | 2.2% | 2.5% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 42 | 1.8% | 3.5% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Dutch | 23 | 1.0% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Welsh | 20 | 0.8% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Maori | 17 | 0.7% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Total | 2,364 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 64 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,300 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).