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 Carpentaria (S) were Australian Aboriginal, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Carpentaria (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Carpentaria (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Carpentaria (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
823
% of total
19.8%
Change from 2016
+18.0pp
823
19.8%
+18.0pp
Australian
2021 count
709
% of total
17.0%
Change from 2016
-12.3pp
709
17.0%
-12.3pp
English
2021 count
460
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
460
11.0%
-3.5pp
Irish
2021 count
123
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
123
3.0%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
115
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
115
2.8%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
76
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
76
1.8%
0.0pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
75
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
75
1.8%
+1.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
23
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
23
0.6%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
21
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
21
0.5%
-0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
19
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
19
0.5%
0.0pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
+752
+18.0pp
Australian
-434
-12.3pp
English
-106
-3.5pp
Irish
-22
-0.7pp
Scottish
+23
+0.4pp
German
+4
0.0pp
Torres Strait Islander
+61
+1.4pp
Chinese
+3
+0.1pp
Italian
-6
-0.2pp
Dutch
-2
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Carpentaria (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Australian Aboriginal | 823 | 19.8% | 2.6% | 71 | 1.8% | 0.6% | +752 | +18.0pp |
| Australian | 709 | 17.0% | 17.7% | 1,143 | 29.3% | 18.8% | -434 | -12.3pp |
| English | 460 | 11.0% | 19.8% | 566 | 14.5% | 19.6% | -106 | -3.5pp |
| Irish | 123 | 3.0% | 5.5% | 145 | 3.7% | 5.9% | -22 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 115 | 2.8% | 5.2% | 92 | 2.4% | 5.2% | +23 | +0.4pp |
| German | 76 | 1.8% | 3.2% | 72 | 1.8% | 3.3% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 75 | 1.8% | 0.6% | 14 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +61 | +1.4pp |
| Chinese | 23 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 20 | 0.5% | 0.8% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 21 | 0.5% | 1.6% | 27 | 0.7% | 1.5% | -6 | -0.2pp |
| Dutch | 19 | 0.5% | 0.8% | 21 | 0.5% | 0.7% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 4,166 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,898 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +268 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).