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 Kewarra Beach were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Kewarra Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Kewarra Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Kewarra Beach, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
2,671
% of total
43.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,671
43.6%
-0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,923
% of total
31.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,923
31.4%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
685
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
685
11.2%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
647
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
647
10.5%
-1.4pp
German
2021 count
374
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
374
6.1%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
265
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
265
4.3%
+0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
205
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
205
3.3%
+3.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
138
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
138
2.3%
+0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
104
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
104
1.7%
+0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
85
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
85
1.4%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+170
-0.6pp
Australian
+116
-0.6pp
Scottish
+63
+0.2pp
Irish
-23
-1.4pp
German
+54
+0.4pp
Italian
+57
+0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
+193
+3.1pp
Dutch
+20
+0.2pp
Chinese
+11
+0.1pp
New Zealander
+4
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Kewarra Beach. 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 | 2,671 | 43.6% | 34.4% | 2,501 | 44.2% | 35.1% | +170 | -0.6pp |
| Australian | 1,923 | 31.4% | 30.0% | 1,807 | 32.0% | 34.6% | +116 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 685 | 11.2% | 9.3% | 622 | 11.0% | 9.4% | +63 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 647 | 10.5% | 10.5% | 670 | 11.9% | 11.6% | -23 | -1.4pp |
| German | 374 | 6.1% | 5.2% | 320 | 5.7% | 5.4% | +54 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 265 | 4.3% | 5.0% | 208 | 3.7% | 4.8% | +57 | +0.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 205 | 3.3% | 7.1% | 12 | 0.2% | 1.2% | +193 | +3.1pp |
| Dutch | 138 | 2.3% | 1.6% | 118 | 2.1% | 1.6% | +20 | +0.2pp |
| Chinese | 104 | 1.7% | 2.0% | 93 | 1.6% | 2.1% | +11 | +0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 85 | 1.4% | 1.1% | 81 | 1.4% | 1.2% | +4 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).