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 (R) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cairns (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cairns (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
57,347
% of total
17.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
57,347
17.2%
-0.3pp
Australian
2021 count
50,126
% of total
15.0%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
50,126
15.0%
-2.3pp
Irish
2021 count
17,453
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
17,453
5.2%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
15,532
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
15,532
4.7%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
11,773
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
11,773
3.5%
+2.9pp
German
2021 count
8,688
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
8,688
2.6%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
8,372
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
8,372
2.5%
+0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
7,214
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
7,214
2.2%
+1.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
3,418
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
3,418
1.0%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
3,231
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,231
1.0%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,322
-0.3pp
Australian
-4,237
-2.3pp
Irish
-705
-0.6pp
Scottish
+733
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+9,915
+2.9pp
German
+254
-0.1pp
Italian
+861
+0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
+5,585
+1.7pp
Chinese
+89
-0.1pp
Filipino
+723
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cairns (R). 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 | |
| English | 57,347 | 17.2% | 19.8% | 55,025 | 17.5% | 19.6% | +2,322 | -0.3pp |
| Australian | 50,126 | 15.0% | 17.7% | 54,363 | 17.3% | 18.8% | -4,237 | -2.3pp |
| Irish | 17,453 | 5.2% | 5.5% | 18,158 | 5.8% | 5.9% | -705 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 15,532 | 4.7% | 5.2% | 14,799 | 4.7% | 5.2% | +733 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 11,773 | 3.5% | 2.6% | 1,858 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +9,915 | +2.9pp |
| German | 8,688 | 2.6% | 3.2% | 8,434 | 2.7% | 3.3% | +254 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 8,372 | 2.5% | 1.6% | 7,511 | 2.4% | 1.5% | +861 | +0.1pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 7,214 | 2.2% | 0.6% | 1,629 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +5,585 | +1.7pp |
| Chinese | 3,418 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 3,329 | 1.1% | 0.8% | +89 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 3,231 | 1.0% | 0.6% | 2,508 | 0.8% | 0.5% | +723 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 333,900 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 313,716 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +20,184 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).