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 Packers Camp were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Packers Camp - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Packers Camp in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Packers Camp, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
53
% of total
19.8%
Change from 2016
+8.8pp
53
19.8%
+8.8pp
Australian
2021 count
42
% of total
15.7%
Change from 2016
-11.5pp
42
15.7%
-11.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
21
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
21
7.8%
+1.4pp
Italian
2021 count
12
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-
12
4.5%
-
Irish
2021 count
10
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
10
3.7%
-2.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+8
+8.8pp
Australian
-69
-11.5pp
Scottish
-5
+1.4pp
Irish
-14
-2.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Packers Camp. 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 | 53 | 19.8% | 17.2% | 45 | 11.0% | 17.5% | +8 | +8.8pp |
| Australian | 42 | 15.7% | 15.0% | 111 | 27.2% | 17.3% | -69 | -11.5pp |
| Scottish | 21 | 7.8% | 4.7% | 26 | 6.4% | 4.7% | -5 | +1.4pp |
| Italian | 12 | 4.5% | 2.5% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| Irish | 10 | 3.7% | 5.2% | 24 | 5.9% | 5.8% | -14 | -2.2pp |
| Total | 268 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 408 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -140 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).