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 Cleveland (Qld) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cleveland (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cleveland (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Redland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cleveland (Qld), with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
7,487
% of total
47.2%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
7,487
47.2%
+1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
4,703
% of total
29.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
4,703
29.7%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
2,057
% of total
13.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,057
13.0%
+0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,003
% of total
12.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,003
12.6%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
986
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
986
6.2%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
399
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
399
2.5%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
377
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
377
2.4%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
356
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
356
2.2%
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
310
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
310
2.0%
+1.7pp
New Zealander
2021 count
242
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
242
1.5%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+740
+1.6pp
Australian
+280
-0.2pp
Irish
+153
+0.1pp
Scottish
+153
+0.1pp
German
+86
+0.1pp
Chinese
+91
+0.4pp
Italian
+34
+0.1pp
Dutch
+83
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+268
+1.7pp
New Zealander
-5
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cleveland (Qld). 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 | 7,487 | 47.2% | 45.1% | 6,747 | 45.6% | 45.4% | +740 | +1.6pp |
| Australian | 4,703 | 29.7% | 35.5% | 4,423 | 29.9% | 35.7% | +280 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 2,057 | 13.0% | 12.1% | 1,904 | 12.9% | 12.7% | +153 | +0.1pp |
| Scottish | 2,003 | 12.6% | 12.2% | 1,850 | 12.5% | 12.2% | +153 | +0.1pp |
| German | 986 | 6.2% | 6.0% | 900 | 6.1% | 6.3% | +86 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 399 | 2.5% | 1.5% | 308 | 2.1% | 1.2% | +91 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 377 | 2.4% | 2.5% | 343 | 2.3% | 2.4% | +34 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 356 | 2.2% | 2.2% | 273 | 1.8% | 2.0% | +83 | +0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 310 | 2.0% | 2.8% | 42 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +268 | +1.7pp |
| New Zealander | 242 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 247 | 1.7% | 1.9% | -5 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).