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 Aurukun (S) were Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Aurukun (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Aurukun (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Aurukun (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
953
% of total
86.6%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
953
86.6%
+2.3pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
73
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
73
6.6%
+2.7pp
Australian
2021 count
24
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
24
2.2%
-3.6pp
English
2021 count
16
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
16
1.5%
-3.0pp
Irish
2021 count
13
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
13
1.2%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
-117
+2.3pp
Torres Strait Islander
+23
+2.7pp
Australian
-50
-3.6pp
English
-41
-3.0pp
Irish
+4
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Aurukun (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Australian Aboriginal | 953 | 86.6% | 5.1% | 1,070 | 84.3% | 1.2% | -117 | +2.3pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 73 | 6.6% | 1.3% | 50 | 3.9% | 0.5% | +23 | +2.7pp |
| Australian | 24 | 2.2% | 35.3% | 74 | 5.8% | 37.7% | -50 | -3.6pp |
| English | 16 | 1.5% | 39.6% | 57 | 4.5% | 39.2% | -41 | -3.0pp |
| Irish | 13 | 1.2% | 10.9% | 9 | 0.7% | 11.7% | +4 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).