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 McKail were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
McKail - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for McKail in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Albany (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for McKail, with comparison markers for Albany (C).
English
2021 count
1,810
% of total
45.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,810
45.6%
-0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
1,676
% of total
42.2%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
1,676
42.2%
-3.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
347
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
347
8.7%
-0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
274
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
274
6.9%
-0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
190
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
190
4.8%
+1.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
182
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
182
4.6%
-0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
181
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
181
4.6%
+4.4pp
Italian
2021 count
152
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
152
3.8%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
112
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
112
2.8%
+0.1pp
Karen
2021 count
59
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
59
1.5%
+1.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+231
-0.2pp
Australian
+110
-3.3pp
Scottish
+17
-0.9pp
Irish
+26
-0.3pp
Filipino
+78
+1.5pp
Dutch
+6
-0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+173
+4.4pp
Italian
+33
+0.3pp
German
+18
+0.1pp
Karen
+52
+1.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for McKail. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Albany (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Albany (C)% | Count | % | Albany (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,810 | 45.6% | 47.1% | 1,579 | 45.8% | 47.3% | +231 | -0.2pp |
| Australian | 1,676 | 42.2% | 39.8% | 1,566 | 45.5% | 39.7% | +110 | -3.3pp |
| Scottish | 347 | 8.7% | 10.1% | 330 | 9.6% | 10.0% | +17 | -0.9pp |
| Irish | 274 | 6.9% | 8.6% | 248 | 7.2% | 8.8% | +26 | -0.3pp |
| Filipino | 190 | 4.8% | 1.9% | 112 | 3.3% | 1.6% | +78 | +1.5pp |
| Dutch | 182 | 4.6% | 3.7% | 176 | 5.1% | 3.6% | +6 | -0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 181 | 4.6% | 3.2% | 8 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +173 | +4.4pp |
| Italian | 152 | 3.8% | 3.5% | 119 | 3.5% | 3.2% | +33 | +0.3pp |
| German | 112 | 2.8% | 3.8% | 94 | 2.7% | 3.7% | +18 | +0.1pp |
| Karen | 59 | 1.5% | 0.4% | 7 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +52 | +1.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).