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 Macleay Island were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Macleay Island - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Macleay Island in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Redland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Macleay Island, with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
1,453
% of total
22.7%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
1,453
22.7%
-2.0pp
Australian
2021 count
948
% of total
14.8%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
948
14.8%
-1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
455
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
455
7.1%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
415
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
415
6.5%
-0.9pp
German
2021 count
184
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
184
2.9%
-4.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
118
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
118
1.8%
-
Dutch
2021 count
63
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
63
1.0%
-
Italian
2021 count
62
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
62
1.0%
-0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
53
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
53
0.8%
-
French
2021 count
36
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-
36
0.6%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,346
-2.0pp
Australian
+879
-1.1pp
Irish
+425
+0.2pp
Scottish
+383
-0.9pp
German
+154
-4.0pp
Italian
+57
-0.2pp
Danish
+14
-1.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Macleay Island. 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 | 1,453 | 22.7% | 22.5% | 107 | 24.7% | 22.7% | +1,346 | -2.0pp |
| Australian | 948 | 14.8% | 17.8% | 69 | 15.9% | 17.9% | +879 | -1.1pp |
| Irish | 455 | 7.1% | 6.0% | 30 | 6.9% | 6.3% | +425 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 415 | 6.5% | 6.1% | 32 | 7.4% | 6.1% | +383 | -0.9pp |
| German | 184 | 2.9% | 3.0% | 30 | 6.9% | 3.2% | +154 | -4.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 118 | 1.8% | 1.4% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Dutch | 63 | 1.0% | 1.1% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Italian | 62 | 1.0% | 1.3% | 5 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +57 | -0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 53 | 0.8% | 0.8% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| French | 36 | 0.6% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Total | 6,390 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 433 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5,957 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).