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 Wurdong Heights were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wurdong Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wurdong Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wurdong Heights, with comparison markers for Gladstone (R).
English
2021 count
220
% of total
23.8%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
220
23.8%
-4.6pp
Australian
2021 count
211
% of total
22.9%
Change from 2016
+13.4pp
211
22.9%
+13.4pp
German
2021 count
49
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
49
5.3%
-4.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
45
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-5.9pp
45
4.9%
-5.9pp
Irish
2021 count
37
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-9.5pp
37
4.0%
-9.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+199
-4.6pp
Australian
+204
+13.4pp
German
+42
-4.2pp
Scottish
+37
-5.9pp
Irish
+27
-9.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wurdong Heights. 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 | 220 | 23.8% | 20.0% | 21 | 28.4% | 19.3% | +199 | -4.6pp |
| Australian | 211 | 22.9% | 20.7% | 7 | 9.5% | 21.6% | +204 | +13.4pp |
| German | 49 | 5.3% | 3.4% | 7 | 9.5% | 3.3% | +42 | -4.2pp |
| Scottish | 45 | 4.9% | 5.0% | 8 | 10.8% | 5.0% | +37 | -5.9pp |
| Irish | 37 | 4.0% | 4.9% | 10 | 13.5% | 5.3% | +27 | -9.5pp |
| Total | 923 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 74 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +849 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).