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 Lakeland were English, Australian and Samoan.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lakeland - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lakeland in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cook (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lakeland, with comparison markers for Cook (S).
English
2021 count
78
% of total
23.4%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
78
23.4%
+5.7pp
Australian
2021 count
50
% of total
15.0%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
50
15.0%
-3.7pp
Samoan
2021 count
28
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-
28
8.4%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
26
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-
26
7.8%
-
Ni-Vanuatu
2021 count
26
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-
26
7.8%
-
Irish
2021 count
22
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
22
6.6%
+0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
17
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
17
5.1%
-2.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
14
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
14
4.2%
-3.5pp
Swiss
2021 count
13
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
13
3.9%
-0.8pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
12
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-
12
3.6%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+25
+5.7pp
Australian
-6
-3.7pp
Irish
+5
+0.9pp
Italian
-7
-2.9pp
Scottish
-9
-3.5pp
Swiss
-1
-0.8pp
German
-3
-1.4pp
Japanese
-9
-3.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lakeland. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cook (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cook (S)% | Count | % | Cook (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 78 | 23.4% | 28.4% | 53 | 17.7% | 28.9% | +25 | +5.7pp |
| Australian | 50 | 15.0% | 29.5% | 56 | 18.7% | 35.8% | -6 | -3.7pp |
| Samoan | 28 | 8.4% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 26 | 7.8% | 19.2% | - | - | 10.1% | - | - |
| Ni-Vanuatu | 26 | 7.8% | 0.6% | - | - | - | - | - |
| Irish | 22 | 6.6% | 8.8% | 17 | 5.7% | 9.3% | +5 | +0.9pp |
| Italian | 17 | 5.1% | 1.7% | 24 | 8.0% | 2.3% | -7 | -2.9pp |
| Scottish | 14 | 4.2% | 7.2% | 23 | 7.7% | 7.5% | -9 | -3.5pp |
| Swiss | 13 | 3.9% | 0.6% | 14 | 4.7% | 0.7% | -1 | -0.8pp |
| Vietnamese | 12 | 3.6% | 0.2% | - | - | - | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).