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 Tannum Sands were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Tannum Sands - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Tannum Sands in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Tannum Sands, with comparison markers for Gladstone (R).
English
2021 count
2,230
% of total
42.7%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
2,230
42.7%
+2.8pp
Australian
2021 count
2,101
% of total
40.2%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
2,101
40.2%
-1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
641
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
641
12.3%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
600
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
600
11.5%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
377
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
377
7.2%
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
258
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
258
4.9%
+4.2pp
Italian
2021 count
122
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
122
2.3%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
100
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
100
1.9%
-0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
94
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
94
1.8%
+0.3pp
South African
2021 count
77
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
77
1.5%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+178
+2.8pp
Australian
-59
-1.8pp
Scottish
+39
+0.6pp
Irish
-13
-0.4pp
German
+27
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+223
+4.2pp
Italian
+8
+0.1pp
Dutch
-8
-0.2pp
New Zealander
+18
+0.3pp
South African
-41
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Tannum Sands. 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 | 2,230 | 42.7% | 39.9% | 2,052 | 39.9% | 38.6% | +178 | +2.8pp |
| Australian | 2,101 | 40.2% | 41.3% | 2,160 | 42.0% | 43.2% | -59 | -1.8pp |
| Scottish | 641 | 12.3% | 10.1% | 602 | 11.7% | 10.0% | +39 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 600 | 11.5% | 9.8% | 613 | 11.9% | 10.6% | -13 | -0.4pp |
| German | 377 | 7.2% | 6.8% | 350 | 6.8% | 6.7% | +27 | +0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 258 | 4.9% | 5.8% | 35 | 0.7% | 0.4% | +223 | +4.2pp |
| Italian | 122 | 2.3% | 2.0% | 114 | 2.2% | 1.9% | +8 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 100 | 1.9% | 1.5% | 108 | 2.1% | 1.4% | -8 | -0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 94 | 1.8% | 1.1% | 76 | 1.5% | 1.4% | +18 | +0.3pp |
| South African | 77 | 1.5% | 0.9% | 118 | 2.3% | 0.8% | -41 | -0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).