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
45.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,453
45.5%
-0.8pp
Australian
2021 count
948
% of total
29.7%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
948
29.7%
-2.6pp
Irish
2021 count
455
% of total
14.2%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
455
14.2%
-0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
415
% of total
13.0%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
415
13.0%
-2.0pp
German
2021 count
184
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
184
5.8%
-1.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
118
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
118
3.7%
+3.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
63
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
63
2.0%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
62
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
62
1.9%
+0.4pp
New Zealander
2021 count
53
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
53
1.7%
-0.1pp
French
2021 count
36
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
36
1.1%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+213
-0.8pp
Australian
+83
-2.6pp
Irish
+52
-0.8pp
Scottish
+13
-2.0pp
German
-14
-1.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
+110
+3.4pp
Dutch
+20
+0.4pp
Italian
+21
+0.4pp
New Zealander
+6
-0.1pp
French
+15
+0.3pp
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 | 45.5% | 45.1% | 1,240 | 46.3% | 45.4% | +213 | -0.8pp |
| Australian | 948 | 29.7% | 35.5% | 865 | 32.3% | 35.7% | +83 | -2.6pp |
| Irish | 455 | 14.2% | 12.1% | 403 | 15.0% | 12.7% | +52 | -0.8pp |
| Scottish | 415 | 13.0% | 12.2% | 402 | 15.0% | 12.2% | +13 | -2.0pp |
| German | 184 | 5.8% | 6.0% | 198 | 7.4% | 6.3% | -14 | -1.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 118 | 3.7% | 2.8% | 8 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +110 | +3.4pp |
| Dutch | 63 | 2.0% | 2.2% | 43 | 1.6% | 2.0% | +20 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 62 | 1.9% | 2.5% | 41 | 1.5% | 2.4% | +21 | +0.4pp |
| New Zealander | 53 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 47 | 1.8% | 1.9% | +6 | -0.1pp |
| French | 36 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 21 | 0.8% | 0.7% | +15 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).