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 Rodds Bay were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Rodds Bay - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Rodds Bay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rodds Bay, with comparison markers for Gladstone (R).
English
2021 count
70
% of total
26.8%
Change from 2016
+5.8pp
70
26.8%
+5.8pp
Australian
2021 count
49
% of total
18.8%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
49
18.8%
-2.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
18
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
18
6.9%
+3.8pp
Irish
2021 count
12
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
12
4.6%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
11
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
11
4.2%
+0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
10
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-
10
3.8%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-73
+5.8pp
Australian
-93
-2.0pp
Scottish
-3
+3.8pp
Irish
-23
-0.5pp
German
-13
+0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Rodds Bay. 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 | 70 | 26.8% | 20.0% | 143 | 21.0% | 19.3% | -73 | +5.8pp |
| Australian | 49 | 18.8% | 20.7% | 142 | 20.8% | 21.6% | -93 | -2.0pp |
| Scottish | 18 | 6.9% | 5.0% | 21 | 3.1% | 5.0% | -3 | +3.8pp |
| Irish | 12 | 4.6% | 4.9% | 35 | 5.1% | 5.3% | -23 | -0.5pp |
| German | 11 | 4.2% | 3.4% | 24 | 3.5% | 3.3% | -13 | +0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 10 | 3.8% | 2.9% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Total | 261 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 682 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -421 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).