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 Lake Macdonald were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lake Macdonald - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lake Macdonald in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Noosa (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lake Macdonald, with comparison markers for Noosa (S).
English
2021 count
665
% of total
49.2%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
665
49.2%
+2.7pp
Australian
2021 count
495
% of total
36.6%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
495
36.6%
-2.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
193
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
193
14.3%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
160
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
160
11.8%
-1.6pp
German
2021 count
71
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
71
5.3%
-2.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
32
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
32
2.4%
+0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
28
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
28
2.1%
+1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
22
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
22
1.6%
-0.3pp
New Zealander
2021 count
19
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
19
1.4%
-0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
19
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
19
1.4%
+0.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+31
+2.7pp
Australian
-36
-2.4pp
Scottish
+4
+0.4pp
Irish
-23
-1.6pp
German
-32
-2.3pp
Dutch
+10
+0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+17
+1.3pp
Italian
-4
-0.3pp
New Zealander
-6
-0.4pp
Greek
+9
+0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lake Macdonald. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Noosa (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Noosa (S)% | Count | % | Noosa (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 665 | 49.2% | 46.3% | 634 | 46.5% | 46.3% | +31 | +2.7pp |
| Australian | 495 | 36.6% | 33.1% | 531 | 39.0% | 33.9% | -36 | -2.4pp |
| Scottish | 193 | 14.3% | 13.3% | 189 | 13.9% | 12.9% | +4 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 160 | 11.8% | 13.5% | 183 | 13.4% | 13.7% | -23 | -1.6pp |
| German | 71 | 5.3% | 6.3% | 103 | 7.6% | 6.4% | -32 | -2.3pp |
| Dutch | 32 | 2.4% | 2.0% | 22 | 1.6% | 2.0% | +10 | +0.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 28 | 2.1% | 1.5% | 11 | 0.8% | 0.2% | +17 | +1.3pp |
| Italian | 22 | 1.6% | 2.8% | 26 | 1.9% | 2.4% | -4 | -0.3pp |
| New Zealander | 19 | 1.4% | 1.2% | 25 | 1.8% | 1.2% | -6 | -0.4pp |
| Greek | 19 | 1.4% | 0.6% | 10 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +9 | +0.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).