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 Peregian Beach (part) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Peregian Beach (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Peregian Beach (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Noosa (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Peregian Beach (part), with comparison markers for Noosa (S).
English
2021 count
2,306
% of total
46.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,306
46.4%
0.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,593
% of total
32.0%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
1,593
32.0%
-2.0pp
Irish
2021 count
705
% of total
14.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
705
14.2%
-1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
671
% of total
13.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
671
13.5%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
369
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
369
7.4%
+0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
195
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
195
3.9%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
106
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
106
2.1%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
73
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
73
1.5%
+1.3pp
French
2021 count
69
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
69
1.4%
+0.3pp
South African
2021 count
62
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
62
1.2%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+546
0.0pp
Australian
+304
-2.0pp
Irish
+112
-1.4pp
Scottish
+160
0.0pp
German
+123
+0.9pp
Italian
+71
+0.6pp
Dutch
+18
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+65
+1.3pp
French
+27
+0.3pp
South African
+47
+0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Peregian Beach (part). 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 | 2,306 | 46.4% | 46.3% | 1,760 | 46.4% | 46.3% | +546 | 0.0pp |
| Australian | 1,593 | 32.0% | 33.1% | 1,289 | 34.0% | 33.9% | +304 | -2.0pp |
| Irish | 705 | 14.2% | 13.5% | 593 | 15.6% | 13.7% | +112 | -1.4pp |
| Scottish | 671 | 13.5% | 13.3% | 511 | 13.5% | 12.9% | +160 | 0.0pp |
| German | 369 | 7.4% | 6.3% | 246 | 6.5% | 6.4% | +123 | +0.9pp |
| Italian | 195 | 3.9% | 2.8% | 124 | 3.3% | 2.4% | +71 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 106 | 2.1% | 2.0% | 88 | 2.3% | 2.0% | +18 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 73 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 8 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +65 | +1.3pp |
| French | 69 | 1.4% | 1.2% | 42 | 1.1% | 1.0% | +27 | +0.3pp |
| South African | 62 | 1.2% | 0.8% | 15 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +47 | +0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).