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 Redland Bay were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Redland Bay - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Redland Bay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Redland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Redland Bay, with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
7,862
% of total
46.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
7,862
46.1%
-0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
6,504
% of total
38.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
6,504
38.1%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,046
% of total
12.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
2,046
12.0%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
1,970
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,970
11.6%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
1,038
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,038
6.1%
-0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
541
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
541
3.2%
+3.0pp
Italian
2021 count
411
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
411
2.4%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
375
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
375
2.2%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
334
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
334
2.0%
+0.1pp
Maori
2021 count
226
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
226
1.3%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+932
-0.2pp
Australian
+834
+0.2pp
Scottish
+292
+0.3pp
Irish
+200
-0.2pp
German
+42
-0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
+509
+3.0pp
Italian
+90
+0.3pp
Dutch
+81
+0.2pp
New Zealander
+52
+0.1pp
Maori
+56
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Redland Bay. 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 | 7,862 | 46.1% | 45.1% | 6,930 | 46.3% | 45.4% | +932 | -0.2pp |
| Australian | 6,504 | 38.1% | 35.5% | 5,670 | 37.9% | 35.7% | +834 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 2,046 | 12.0% | 12.2% | 1,754 | 11.7% | 12.2% | +292 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 1,970 | 11.6% | 12.1% | 1,770 | 11.8% | 12.7% | +200 | -0.2pp |
| German | 1,038 | 6.1% | 6.0% | 996 | 6.7% | 6.3% | +42 | -0.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 541 | 3.2% | 2.8% | 32 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +509 | +3.0pp |
| Italian | 411 | 2.4% | 2.5% | 321 | 2.1% | 2.4% | +90 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 375 | 2.2% | 2.2% | 294 | 2.0% | 2.0% | +81 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 334 | 2.0% | 1.7% | 282 | 1.9% | 1.9% | +52 | +0.1pp |
| Maori | 226 | 1.3% | 1.5% | 170 | 1.1% | 1.3% | +56 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).