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 Mount Maria were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mount Maria - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mount Maria in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Maria, with comparison markers for Gladstone (R).
Australian
2021 count
96
% of total
42.7%
Change from 2016
-9.6pp
96
42.7%
-9.6pp
English
2021 count
85
% of total
37.8%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
85
37.8%
+3.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
35
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
35
15.6%
+1.6pp
Irish
2021 count
27
% of total
12.0%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
27
12.0%
+1.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
16
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+5.5pp
16
7.1%
+5.5pp
German
2021 count
16
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
16
7.1%
+1.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-5
-9.6pp
English
+19
+3.6pp
Scottish
+8
+1.6pp
Irish
+7
+1.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
+13
+5.5pp
German
+6
+1.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mount Maria. 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 | 96 | 42.7% | 41.3% | 101 | 52.3% | 43.2% | -5 | -9.6pp |
| English | 85 | 37.8% | 39.9% | 66 | 34.2% | 38.6% | +19 | +3.6pp |
| Scottish | 35 | 15.6% | 10.1% | 27 | 14.0% | 10.0% | +8 | +1.6pp |
| Irish | 27 | 12.0% | 9.8% | 20 | 10.4% | 10.6% | +7 | +1.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 16 | 7.1% | 5.8% | 3 | 1.6% | 0.4% | +13 | +5.5pp |
| German | 16 | 7.1% | 6.8% | 10 | 5.2% | 6.7% | +6 | +1.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).