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 Alexandra Hills were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Alexandra Hills - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Alexandra Hills in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Redland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Alexandra Hills, with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
6,966
% of total
42.3%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
6,966
42.3%
-0.9pp
Australian
2021 count
6,300
% of total
38.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
6,300
38.2%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,908
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,908
11.6%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
1,868
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,868
11.3%
-0.9pp
German
2021 count
968
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
968
5.9%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
569
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
569
3.5%
+3.2pp
Italian
2021 count
374
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
374
2.3%
-0.1pp
Maori
2021 count
344
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
344
2.1%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
330
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
330
2.0%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
291
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
291
1.8%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-58
-0.9pp
Australian
-75
-1.0pp
Scottish
+120
+0.6pp
Irish
-114
-0.9pp
German
-47
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+522
+3.2pp
Italian
-11
-0.1pp
Maori
+31
+0.2pp
Dutch
+41
+0.2pp
New Zealander
-71
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Alexandra Hills. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Redland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Redland (C)% | Count | % | Redland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 6,966 | 42.3% | 45.1% | 7,024 | 43.2% | 45.4% | -58 | -0.9pp |
| Australian | 6,300 | 38.2% | 35.5% | 6,375 | 39.2% | 35.7% | -75 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,908 | 11.6% | 12.2% | 1,788 | 11.0% | 12.2% | +120 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 1,868 | 11.3% | 12.1% | 1,982 | 12.2% | 12.7% | -114 | -0.9pp |
| German | 968 | 5.9% | 6.0% | 1,015 | 6.2% | 6.3% | -47 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 569 | 3.5% | 2.8% | 47 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +522 | +3.2pp |
| Italian | 374 | 2.3% | 2.5% | 385 | 2.4% | 2.4% | -11 | -0.1pp |
| Maori | 344 | 2.1% | 1.5% | 313 | 1.9% | 1.3% | +31 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 330 | 2.0% | 2.2% | 289 | 1.8% | 2.0% | +41 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 291 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 362 | 2.2% | 1.9% | -71 | -0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).