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 River Ranch were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
River Ranch - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for River Ranch in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for River Ranch, with comparison markers for Gladstone (R).
Australian
2021 count
129
% of total
48.0%
Change from 2016
+8.2pp
129
48.0%
+8.2pp
English
2021 count
106
% of total
39.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
106
39.4%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
27
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
27
10.0%
+4.1pp
German
2021 count
26
% of total
9.7%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
26
9.7%
+3.0pp
Irish
2021 count
24
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
24
8.9%
-0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
14
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
14
5.2%
+3.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-13
+8.2pp
English
-37
-0.7pp
Scottish
+6
+4.1pp
German
+2
+3.0pp
Irish
-11
-0.9pp
Dutch
+8
+3.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for River Ranch. 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 | 129 | 48.0% | 41.3% | 142 | 39.8% | 43.2% | -13 | +8.2pp |
| English | 106 | 39.4% | 39.9% | 143 | 40.1% | 38.6% | -37 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 27 | 10.0% | 10.1% | 21 | 5.9% | 10.0% | +6 | +4.1pp |
| German | 26 | 9.7% | 6.8% | 24 | 6.7% | 6.7% | +2 | +3.0pp |
| Irish | 24 | 8.9% | 9.8% | 35 | 9.8% | 10.6% | -11 | -0.9pp |
| Dutch | 14 | 5.2% | 1.5% | 6 | 1.7% | 1.4% | +8 | +3.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).