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 Gold Coast (C) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Gold Coast (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Gold Coast (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gold Coast (C), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
249,795
% of total
20.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
249,795
20.0%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
191,740
% of total
15.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
191,740
15.3%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
65,021
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
65,021
5.2%
-0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
62,371
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
62,371
5.0%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
29,449
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
29,449
2.4%
-0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
20,956
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
20,956
1.7%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
19,507
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
19,507
1.6%
+0.2pp
Maori
2021 count
13,742
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
13,742
1.1%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
12,958
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
12,958
1.0%
+0.9pp
New Zealander
2021 count
12,617
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
12,617
1.0%
-0.2pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+26,021
-0.1pp
Australian
+20,174
-0.1pp
Irish
+2,319
-0.4pp
Scottish
+5,544
-0.1pp
German
+2,201
-0.1pp
Chinese
+3,945
+0.2pp
Italian
+4,243
+0.2pp
Maori
+2,007
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+11,778
+0.9pp
New Zealander
-603
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Gold Coast (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| English | 249,795 | 20.0% | 19.8% | 223,774 | 20.1% | 19.6% | +26,021 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 191,740 | 15.3% | 17.7% | 171,566 | 15.4% | 18.8% | +20,174 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 65,021 | 5.2% | 5.5% | 62,702 | 5.6% | 5.9% | +2,319 | -0.4pp |
| Scottish | 62,371 | 5.0% | 5.2% | 56,827 | 5.1% | 5.2% | +5,544 | -0.1pp |
| German | 29,449 | 2.4% | 3.2% | 27,248 | 2.5% | 3.3% | +2,201 | -0.1pp |
| Chinese | 20,956 | 1.7% | 0.8% | 17,011 | 1.5% | 0.8% | +3,945 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 19,507 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 15,264 | 1.4% | 1.5% | +4,243 | +0.2pp |
| Maori | 13,742 | 1.1% | 0.5% | 11,735 | 1.1% | 0.5% | +2,007 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 12,958 | 1.0% | 2.6% | 1,180 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +11,778 | +0.9pp |
| New Zealander | 12,617 | 1.0% | 0.6% | 13,220 | 1.2% | 0.7% | -603 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 1,250,185 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,111,398 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +138,787 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).