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 Kamerunga were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Kamerunga - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Kamerunga in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Kamerunga, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
386
% of total
40.1%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
386
40.1%
+3.4pp
Australian
2021 count
311
% of total
32.3%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
311
32.3%
-3.1pp
Irish
2021 count
118
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
118
12.3%
-1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
110
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
110
11.4%
+1.2pp
German
2021 count
92
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
92
9.6%
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
50
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+4.7pp
50
5.2%
+4.7pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
45
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
45
4.7%
+4.4pp
Italian
2021 count
28
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
28
2.9%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
20
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
20
2.1%
-0.5pp
Papua New Guinean
2021 count
15
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
15
1.6%
-1.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1
+3.4pp
Australian
-60
-3.1pp
Irish
-28
-1.6pp
Scottish
+3
+1.2pp
German
+3
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+45
+4.7pp
Torres Strait Islander
+42
+4.4pp
Italian
-5
-0.2pp
Chinese
-7
-0.5pp
Papua New Guinean
-22
-1.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Kamerunga. 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 | 386 | 40.1% | 34.4% | 385 | 36.7% | 35.1% | +1 | +3.4pp |
| Australian | 311 | 32.3% | 30.0% | 371 | 35.4% | 34.6% | -60 | -3.1pp |
| Irish | 118 | 12.3% | 10.5% | 146 | 13.9% | 11.6% | -28 | -1.6pp |
| Scottish | 110 | 11.4% | 9.3% | 107 | 10.2% | 9.4% | +3 | +1.2pp |
| German | 92 | 9.6% | 5.2% | 89 | 8.5% | 5.4% | +3 | +1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 50 | 5.2% | 7.1% | 5 | 0.5% | 1.2% | +45 | +4.7pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 45 | 4.7% | 4.3% | 3 | 0.3% | 1.0% | +42 | +4.4pp |
| Italian | 28 | 2.9% | 5.0% | 33 | 3.1% | 4.8% | -5 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 20 | 2.1% | 2.0% | 27 | 2.6% | 2.1% | -7 | -0.5pp |
| Papua New Guinean | 15 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 37 | 3.5% | 1.6% | -22 | -1.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).