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 Bellenden Ker were Australian, English and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bellenden Ker - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bellenden Ker in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bellenden Ker, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Australian
2021 count
100
% of total
22.2%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
100
22.2%
+6.6pp
English
2021 count
62
% of total
13.7%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
62
13.7%
-3.9pp
Italian
2021 count
41
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
+8.3pp
41
9.1%
+8.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
24
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
24
5.3%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
21
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
21
4.7%
-0.3pp
Danish
2021 count
14
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
14
3.1%
+3.0pp
German
2021 count
11
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
11
2.4%
-0.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-1,999
+6.6pp
English
-2,310
-3.9pp
Italian
-61
+8.3pp
Scottish
-603
+0.6pp
Irish
-647
-0.3pp
Danish
-6
+3.0pp
German
-428
-0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bellenden Ker. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 100 | 22.2% | 15.0% | 2,099 | 15.6% | 17.3% | -1,999 | +6.6pp |
| English | 62 | 13.7% | 17.2% | 2,372 | 17.6% | 17.5% | -2,310 | -3.9pp |
| Italian | 41 | 9.1% | 2.5% | 102 | 0.8% | 2.4% | -61 | +8.3pp |
| Scottish | 24 | 5.3% | 4.7% | 627 | 4.7% | 4.7% | -603 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 21 | 4.7% | 5.2% | 668 | 5.0% | 5.8% | -647 | -0.3pp |
| Danish | 14 | 3.1% | 0.2% | 20 | 0.1% | 0.2% | -6 | +3.0pp |
| German | 11 | 2.4% | 2.6% | 439 | 3.3% | 2.7% | -428 | -0.9pp |
| Total | 451 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 13,454 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -13,003 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).