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 Gladstone Central were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Gladstone Central - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Gladstone Central in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gladstone Central, with comparison markers for Gladstone (R).
English
2021 count
578
% of total
18.8%
Change from 2016
-10.8pp
578
18.8%
-10.8pp
Australian
2021 count
432
% of total
14.0%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
432
14.0%
-2.7pp
Irish
2021 count
164
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
164
5.3%
-2.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
113
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-9.3pp
113
3.7%
-9.3pp
German
2021 count
85
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-8.3pp
85
2.8%
-8.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
83
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-
83
2.7%
-
Italian
2021 count
54
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
54
1.8%
-
Indian
2021 count
48
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
48
1.6%
-
Filipino
2021 count
45
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
45
1.5%
-
Chinese
2021 count
40
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
40
1.3%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+562
-10.8pp
Australian
+423
-2.7pp
Irish
+160
-2.1pp
Scottish
+106
-9.3pp
German
+79
-8.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Gladstone Central. 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 | |
| English | 578 | 18.8% | 20.0% | 16 | 29.6% | 19.3% | +562 | -10.8pp |
| Australian | 432 | 14.0% | 20.7% | 9 | 16.7% | 21.6% | +423 | -2.7pp |
| Irish | 164 | 5.3% | 4.9% | 4 | 7.4% | 5.3% | +160 | -2.1pp |
| Scottish | 113 | 3.7% | 5.0% | 7 | 13.0% | 5.0% | +106 | -9.3pp |
| German | 85 | 2.8% | 3.4% | 6 | 11.1% | 3.3% | +79 | -8.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 83 | 2.7% | 2.9% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Italian | 54 | 1.8% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| Indian | 48 | 1.6% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Filipino | 45 | 1.5% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Chinese | 40 | 1.3% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Total | 3,079 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 54 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,025 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).