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 Noosa Heads were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Noosa Heads - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Noosa Heads in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Noosa (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Noosa Heads, with comparison markers for Noosa (S).
English
2021 count
2,313
% of total
45.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
2,313
45.2%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
1,325
% of total
25.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
1,325
25.9%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
776
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
776
15.2%
+1.5pp
Irish
2021 count
752
% of total
14.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
752
14.7%
+0.8pp
German
2021 count
298
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
298
5.8%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
190
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
190
3.7%
+0.9pp
French
2021 count
114
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
114
2.2%
+0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
97
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
97
1.9%
-0.3pp
South African
2021 count
66
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
66
1.3%
+0.6pp
New Zealander
2021 count
60
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
60
1.2%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+302
+0.4pp
Australian
+117
-1.0pp
Scottish
+162
+1.5pp
Irish
+129
+0.8pp
German
+57
+0.4pp
Italian
+64
+0.9pp
French
+55
+0.9pp
Dutch
-3
-0.3pp
South African
+35
+0.6pp
New Zealander
+19
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Noosa Heads. 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 | 2,313 | 45.2% | 46.3% | 2,011 | 44.8% | 46.3% | +302 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 1,325 | 25.9% | 33.1% | 1,208 | 26.9% | 33.9% | +117 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 776 | 15.2% | 13.3% | 614 | 13.7% | 12.9% | +162 | +1.5pp |
| Irish | 752 | 14.7% | 13.5% | 623 | 13.9% | 13.7% | +129 | +0.8pp |
| German | 298 | 5.8% | 6.3% | 241 | 5.4% | 6.4% | +57 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 190 | 3.7% | 2.8% | 126 | 2.8% | 2.4% | +64 | +0.9pp |
| French | 114 | 2.2% | 1.2% | 59 | 1.3% | 1.0% | +55 | +0.9pp |
| Dutch | 97 | 1.9% | 2.0% | 100 | 2.2% | 2.0% | -3 | -0.3pp |
| South African | 66 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 31 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +35 | +0.6pp |
| New Zealander | 60 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 41 | 0.9% | 1.2% | +19 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).