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 Nambucca Heads were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Nambucca Heads - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Nambucca Heads in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Nambucca (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Nambucca Heads, with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).
English
2021 count
2,784
% of total
41.7%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
2,784
41.7%
-1.4pp
Australian
2021 count
2,659
% of total
39.8%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
2,659
39.8%
-2.6pp
Irish
2021 count
776
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
776
11.6%
+0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
728
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
728
10.9%
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
620
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
+7.0pp
620
9.3%
+7.0pp
German
2021 count
280
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
280
4.2%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
113
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
113
1.7%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
56
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
56
0.8%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
44
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
44
0.7%
+0.4pp
New Zealander
2021 count
40
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
40
0.6%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+56
-1.4pp
Australian
-24
-2.6pp
Irish
+75
+0.5pp
Scottish
+70
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+472
+7.0pp
German
+42
+0.4pp
Italian
+10
+0.1pp
Dutch
-1
-0.1pp
Filipino
+23
+0.4pp
New Zealander
-8
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Nambucca Heads. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,784 | 41.7% | 43.2% | 2,728 | 43.1% | 43.1% | +56 | -1.4pp |
| Australian | 2,659 | 39.8% | 41.0% | 2,683 | 42.4% | 44.8% | -24 | -2.6pp |
| Irish | 776 | 11.6% | 11.6% | 701 | 11.1% | 11.6% | +75 | +0.5pp |
| Scottish | 728 | 10.9% | 11.2% | 658 | 10.4% | 10.5% | +70 | +0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 620 | 9.3% | 7.4% | 148 | 2.3% | 1.8% | +472 | +7.0pp |
| German | 280 | 4.2% | 4.0% | 238 | 3.8% | 3.9% | +42 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 113 | 1.7% | 1.8% | 103 | 1.6% | 1.5% | +10 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 56 | 0.8% | 1.2% | 57 | 0.9% | 1.1% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 44 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 21 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +23 | +0.4pp |
| New Zealander | 40 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 48 | 0.8% | 0.7% | -8 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).