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 Harvey were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Harvey - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Harvey in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Harvey (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Harvey, with comparison markers for Harvey (S).
English
2021 count
1,251
% of total
36.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,251
36.1%
-0.9pp
Australian
2021 count
1,097
% of total
31.7%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
1,097
31.7%
-2.4pp
Italian
2021 count
527
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
527
15.2%
-1.7pp
Filipino
2021 count
422
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
422
12.2%
+2.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
206
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
206
6.0%
+0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
195
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
195
5.6%
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
128
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
128
3.7%
+3.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
81
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
81
2.3%
+0.6pp
German
2021 count
59
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
59
1.7%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
53
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
53
1.5%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+26
-0.9pp
Australian
-33
-2.4pp
Italian
-33
-1.7pp
Filipino
+107
+2.7pp
Scottish
+29
+0.7pp
Irish
-13
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+110
+3.2pp
Chinese
+25
+0.6pp
German
+4
0.0pp
Dutch
-8
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Harvey. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Harvey (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Harvey (S)% | Count | % | Harvey (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,251 | 36.1% | 45.3% | 1,225 | 37.0% | 43.9% | +26 | -0.9pp |
| Australian | 1,097 | 31.7% | 40.1% | 1,130 | 34.1% | 39.6% | -33 | -2.4pp |
| Italian | 527 | 15.2% | 7.7% | 560 | 16.9% | 7.8% | -33 | -1.7pp |
| Filipino | 422 | 12.2% | 2.2% | 315 | 9.5% | 1.6% | +107 | +2.7pp |
| Scottish | 206 | 6.0% | 9.4% | 177 | 5.3% | 9.0% | +29 | +0.7pp |
| Irish | 195 | 5.6% | 9.0% | 208 | 6.3% | 9.5% | -13 | -0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 128 | 3.7% | 2.9% | 18 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +110 | +3.2pp |
| Chinese | 81 | 2.3% | 0.9% | 56 | 1.7% | 0.8% | +25 | +0.6pp |
| German | 59 | 1.7% | 3.2% | 55 | 1.7% | 3.0% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 53 | 1.5% | 2.2% | 61 | 1.8% | 2.2% | -8 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).