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 Manunda were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Manunda - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Manunda in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Manunda, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
1,480
% of total
28.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,480
28.5%
+0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,248
% of total
24.0%
Change from 2016
-7.8pp
1,248
24.0%
-7.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
590
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
+9.2pp
590
11.4%
+9.2pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
479
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+7.2pp
479
9.2%
+7.2pp
Irish
2021 count
476
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
476
9.2%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
389
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
389
7.5%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
206
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
206
4.0%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
172
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
172
3.3%
+0.7pp
Nepalese
2021 count
150
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
150
2.9%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
149
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
149
2.9%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-23
+0.6pp
Australian
-466
-7.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+473
+9.2pp
Torres Strait Islander
+373
+7.2pp
Irish
-11
+0.2pp
Scottish
-14
0.0pp
German
-9
0.0pp
Filipino
+31
+0.7pp
Nepalese
+12
+0.3pp
Italian
-10
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Manunda. 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 | 1,480 | 28.5% | 34.4% | 1,503 | 27.9% | 35.1% | -23 | +0.6pp |
| Australian | 1,248 | 24.0% | 30.0% | 1,714 | 31.8% | 34.6% | -466 | -7.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 590 | 11.4% | 7.1% | 117 | 2.2% | 1.2% | +473 | +9.2pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 479 | 9.2% | 4.3% | 106 | 2.0% | 1.0% | +373 | +7.2pp |
| Irish | 476 | 9.2% | 10.5% | 487 | 9.0% | 11.6% | -11 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 389 | 7.5% | 9.3% | 403 | 7.5% | 9.4% | -14 | 0.0pp |
| German | 206 | 4.0% | 5.2% | 215 | 4.0% | 5.4% | -9 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 172 | 3.3% | 1.9% | 141 | 2.6% | 1.6% | +31 | +0.7pp |
| Nepalese | 150 | 2.9% | 0.5% | 138 | 2.6% | 0.3% | +12 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 149 | 2.9% | 5.0% | 159 | 2.9% | 4.8% | -10 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).