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 Russell Island were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Russell Island - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Russell Island in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Redland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Russell Island, with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
1,653
% of total
22.4%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
1,653
22.4%
+5.2pp
Australian
2021 count
1,173
% of total
15.9%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
1,173
15.9%
-4.2pp
Irish
2021 count
523
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
523
7.1%
+3.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
470
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
470
6.4%
-1.9pp
German
2021 count
197
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-4.8pp
197
2.7%
-4.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
165
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-
165
2.2%
-
Dutch
2021 count
72
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
72
1.0%
-
New Zealander
2021 count
61
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
61
0.8%
-
Italian
2021 count
61
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
61
0.8%
-0.9pp
Filipino
2021 count
58
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
58
0.8%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,582
+5.2pp
Australian
+1,090
-4.2pp
Irish
+506
+3.0pp
Scottish
+436
-1.9pp
German
+166
-4.8pp
Italian
+54
-0.9pp
Maori
+54
+0.1pp
Danish
+6
-2.7pp
Spanish
+8
-1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Russell 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 | 1,653 | 22.4% | 22.5% | 71 | 17.2% | 22.7% | +1,582 | +5.2pp |
| Australian | 1,173 | 15.9% | 17.8% | 83 | 20.1% | 17.9% | +1,090 | -4.2pp |
| Irish | 523 | 7.1% | 6.0% | 17 | 4.1% | 6.3% | +506 | +3.0pp |
| Scottish | 470 | 6.4% | 6.1% | 34 | 8.3% | 6.1% | +436 | -1.9pp |
| German | 197 | 2.7% | 3.0% | 31 | 7.5% | 3.2% | +166 | -4.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 165 | 2.2% | 1.4% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Dutch | 72 | 1.0% | 1.1% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| New Zealander | 61 | 0.8% | 0.8% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Italian | 61 | 0.8% | 1.3% | 7 | 1.7% | 1.2% | +54 | -0.9pp |
| Filipino | 58 | 0.8% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Total | 7,384 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 412 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,972 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).