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 Woree were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Woree - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Woree in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Woree, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
1,433
% of total
28.0%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
1,433
28.0%
-2.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,350
% of total
26.3%
Change from 2016
-10.9pp
1,350
26.3%
-10.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
585
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
+8.9pp
585
11.4%
+8.9pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
407
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
+5.3pp
407
7.9%
+5.3pp
Irish
2021 count
398
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
398
7.8%
-2.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
384
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
384
7.5%
-0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
244
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
244
4.8%
-0.5pp
Filipino
2021 count
187
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
187
3.6%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
177
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
177
3.5%
-1.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
108
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
108
2.1%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-40
-2.6pp
Australian
-442
-10.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
+466
+8.9pp
Torres Strait Islander
+280
+5.3pp
Irish
-96
-2.4pp
Scottish
-7
-0.6pp
Italian
-12
-0.5pp
Filipino
+20
+0.1pp
German
-38
-1.0pp
Chinese
+5
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Woree. 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 | 1,433 | 28.0% | 34.4% | 1,473 | 30.6% | 35.1% | -40 | -2.6pp |
| Australian | 1,350 | 26.3% | 30.0% | 1,792 | 37.2% | 34.6% | -442 | -10.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 585 | 11.4% | 7.1% | 119 | 2.5% | 1.2% | +466 | +8.9pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 407 | 7.9% | 4.3% | 127 | 2.6% | 1.0% | +280 | +5.3pp |
| Irish | 398 | 7.8% | 10.5% | 494 | 10.2% | 11.6% | -96 | -2.4pp |
| Scottish | 384 | 7.5% | 9.3% | 391 | 8.1% | 9.4% | -7 | -0.6pp |
| Italian | 244 | 4.8% | 5.0% | 256 | 5.3% | 4.8% | -12 | -0.5pp |
| Filipino | 187 | 3.6% | 1.9% | 167 | 3.5% | 1.6% | +20 | +0.1pp |
| German | 177 | 3.5% | 5.2% | 215 | 4.5% | 5.4% | -38 | -1.0pp |
| Chinese | 108 | 2.1% | 2.0% | 103 | 2.1% | 2.1% | +5 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).