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 Westcourt were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Westcourt - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Westcourt in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Westcourt, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
1,110
% of total
14.5%
Change from 2016
-13.7pp
1,110
14.5%
-13.7pp
Australian
2021 count
879
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
-19.3pp
879
11.5%
-19.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
394
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-
394
5.1%
-
Irish
2021 count
358
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-
358
4.7%
-
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
311
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-
311
4.1%
-
Scottish
2021 count
265
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-19.6pp
265
3.5%
-19.6pp
Italian
2021 count
150
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-
150
2.0%
-
German
2021 count
127
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-
127
1.7%
-
Filipino
2021 count
120
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
120
1.6%
-
Chinese
2021 count
113
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
113
1.5%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,099
-13.7pp
Australian
+867
-19.3pp
Scottish
+256
-19.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Westcourt. 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 | 1,110 | 14.5% | 17.2% | 11 | 28.2% | 17.5% | +1,099 | -13.7pp |
| Australian | 879 | 11.5% | 15.0% | 12 | 30.8% | 17.3% | +867 | -19.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 394 | 5.1% | 3.5% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Irish | 358 | 4.7% | 5.2% | - | - | 5.8% | - | - |
| Torres Strait Islander | 311 | 4.1% | 2.2% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Scottish | 265 | 3.5% | 4.7% | 9 | 23.1% | 4.7% | +256 | -19.6pp |
| Italian | 150 | 2.0% | 2.5% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| German | 127 | 1.7% | 2.6% | - | - | 2.7% | - | - |
| Filipino | 120 | 1.6% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Chinese | 113 | 1.5% | 1.0% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| Total | 7,667 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 39 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,628 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).