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 North were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cairns North - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cairns North in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns North, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
1,372
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
1,372
12.9%
-4.2pp
Australian
2021 count
942
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-10.3pp
942
8.9%
-10.3pp
Irish
2021 count
552
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-7.1pp
552
5.2%
-7.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
410
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-5.7pp
410
3.9%
-5.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
284
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-
284
2.7%
-
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
251
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-
251
2.4%
-
German
2021 count
251
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
251
2.4%
-3.8pp
Italian
2021 count
201
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-
201
1.9%
-
Chinese
2021 count
177
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-
177
1.7%
-
Indian
2021 count
143
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
143
1.3%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,347
-4.2pp
Australian
+914
-10.3pp
Irish
+534
-7.1pp
Scottish
+396
-5.7pp
German
+242
-3.8pp
Russian
+8
-4.0pp
Ukrainian
+6
-3.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cairns North. 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 | 1,372 | 12.9% | 17.2% | 25 | 17.1% | 17.5% | +1,347 | -4.2pp |
| Australian | 942 | 8.9% | 15.0% | 28 | 19.2% | 17.3% | +914 | -10.3pp |
| Irish | 552 | 5.2% | 5.2% | 18 | 12.3% | 5.8% | +534 | -7.1pp |
| Scottish | 410 | 3.9% | 4.7% | 14 | 9.6% | 4.7% | +396 | -5.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 284 | 2.7% | 3.5% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Torres Strait Islander | 251 | 2.4% | 2.2% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| German | 251 | 2.4% | 2.6% | 9 | 6.2% | 2.7% | +242 | -3.8pp |
| Italian | 201 | 1.9% | 2.5% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| Chinese | 177 | 1.7% | 1.0% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| Indian | 143 | 1.3% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Total | 10,635 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 146 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +10,489 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).