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 Cairns City were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cairns City - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cairns City in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns City, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
822
% of total
22.7%
Change from 2016
-4.1pp
822
22.7%
-4.1pp
Australian
2021 count
439
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
-5.4pp
439
12.1%
-5.4pp
Irish
2021 count
302
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
302
8.4%
-2.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
212
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
212
5.9%
-0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
152
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
152
4.2%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
135
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
135
3.7%
-0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
111
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
111
3.1%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
78
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
78
2.2%
+1.1pp
Indian
2021 count
67
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
67
1.9%
-0.3pp
French
2021 count
57
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
57
1.6%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+88
-4.1pp
Australian
-40
-5.4pp
Irish
+12
-2.2pp
Scottish
+31
-0.7pp
Italian
+52
+0.5pp
German
+26
-0.3pp
Chinese
+17
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+49
+1.1pp
Indian
+8
-0.3pp
French
+23
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cairns City. 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 | |
| English | 822 | 22.7% | 34.4% | 734 | 26.8% | 35.1% | +88 | -4.1pp |
| Australian | 439 | 12.1% | 30.0% | 479 | 17.5% | 34.6% | -40 | -5.4pp |
| Irish | 302 | 8.4% | 10.5% | 290 | 10.6% | 11.6% | +12 | -2.2pp |
| Scottish | 212 | 5.9% | 9.3% | 181 | 6.6% | 9.4% | +31 | -0.7pp |
| Italian | 152 | 4.2% | 5.0% | 100 | 3.7% | 4.8% | +52 | +0.5pp |
| German | 135 | 3.7% | 5.2% | 109 | 4.0% | 5.4% | +26 | -0.3pp |
| Chinese | 111 | 3.1% | 2.0% | 94 | 3.4% | 2.1% | +17 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 78 | 2.2% | 7.1% | 29 | 1.1% | 1.2% | +49 | +1.1pp |
| Indian | 67 | 1.9% | 1.3% | 59 | 2.2% | 1.1% | +8 | -0.3pp |
| French | 57 | 1.6% | 0.7% | 34 | 1.2% | 0.7% | +23 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).