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 Lismore Heights were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lismore Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lismore Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Lismore (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lismore Heights, with comparison markers for Lismore (C).
English
2021 count
922
% of total
43.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
922
43.6%
0.0pp
Australian
2021 count
801
% of total
37.8%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
801
37.8%
-3.9pp
Irish
2021 count
360
% of total
17.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
360
17.0%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
251
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
251
11.9%
+0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
130
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
130
6.1%
+5.7pp
German
2021 count
125
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
125
5.9%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
95
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
95
4.5%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
27
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
27
1.3%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
24
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
24
1.1%
0.0pp
French
2021 count
24
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
24
1.1%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-34
0.0pp
Australian
-113
-3.9pp
Irish
-15
-0.1pp
Scottish
+7
+0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+122
+5.7pp
German
0
+0.2pp
Italian
-4
0.0pp
Chinese
+1
+0.1pp
Dutch
0
0.0pp
French
+9
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lismore Heights. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Lismore (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Lismore (C)% | Count | % | Lismore (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 922 | 43.6% | 41.2% | 956 | 43.6% | 41.3% | -34 | 0.0pp |
| Australian | 801 | 37.8% | 39.6% | 914 | 41.7% | 41.3% | -113 | -3.9pp |
| Irish | 360 | 17.0% | 14.3% | 375 | 17.1% | 15.2% | -15 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 251 | 11.9% | 12.1% | 244 | 11.1% | 11.7% | +7 | +0.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 130 | 6.1% | 5.6% | 8 | 0.4% | 0.9% | +122 | +5.7pp |
| German | 125 | 5.9% | 4.8% | 125 | 5.7% | 4.7% | 0 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 95 | 4.5% | 4.3% | 99 | 4.5% | 4.4% | -4 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 27 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 26 | 1.2% | 0.7% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 24 | 1.1% | 1.2% | 24 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| French | 24 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 15 | 0.7% | 0.6% | +9 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).