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 Benaraby were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Benaraby - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Benaraby in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Benaraby, with comparison markers for Gladstone (R).
Australian
2021 count
558
% of total
47.9%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
558
47.9%
+2.5pp
English
2021 count
489
% of total
41.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
489
41.9%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
124
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
124
10.6%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
113
% of total
9.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
113
9.7%
+1.2pp
German
2021 count
96
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
96
8.2%
+2.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
46
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
46
3.9%
+3.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
24
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
24
2.1%
0.0pp
South African
2021 count
22
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
22
1.9%
+0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
21
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
21
1.8%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
13
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
13
1.1%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+4
+2.5pp
English
-23
-0.1pp
Scottish
0
+0.4pp
Irish
+9
+1.2pp
German
+23
+2.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+43
+3.7pp
Dutch
-2
0.0pp
South African
+9
+0.8pp
Italian
+1
+0.2pp
New Zealander
-4
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Benaraby. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Gladstone (R)% | Count | % | Gladstone (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 558 | 47.9% | 41.3% | 554 | 45.4% | 43.2% | +4 | +2.5pp |
| English | 489 | 41.9% | 39.9% | 512 | 42.0% | 38.6% | -23 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 124 | 10.6% | 10.1% | 124 | 10.2% | 10.0% | 0 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 113 | 9.7% | 9.8% | 104 | 8.5% | 10.6% | +9 | +1.2pp |
| German | 96 | 8.2% | 6.8% | 73 | 6.0% | 6.7% | +23 | +2.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 46 | 3.9% | 5.8% | 3 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +43 | +3.7pp |
| Dutch | 24 | 2.1% | 1.5% | 26 | 2.1% | 1.4% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| South African | 22 | 1.9% | 0.9% | 13 | 1.1% | 0.8% | +9 | +0.8pp |
| Italian | 21 | 1.8% | 2.0% | 20 | 1.6% | 1.9% | +1 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 13 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 17 | 1.4% | 1.4% | -4 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).