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 Hinchinbrook (S) were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Hinchinbrook (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Hinchinbrook (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hinchinbrook (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
3,760
% of total
17.2%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
3,760
17.2%
+1.3pp
Australian
2021 count
3,705
% of total
17.0%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
3,705
17.0%
-1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
3,009
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
3,009
13.8%
-0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
1,108
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,108
5.1%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
869
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
869
4.0%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
635
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
635
2.9%
+2.3pp
German
2021 count
405
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
405
1.9%
-0.2pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
129
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
129
0.6%
+0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
114
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
114
0.5%
+0.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
106
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
106
0.5%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+301
+1.3pp
Australian
-282
-1.3pp
Italian
-98
-0.5pp
Irish
+51
+0.2pp
Scottish
+38
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+504
+2.3pp
German
-48
-0.2pp
Torres Strait Islander
+89
+0.4pp
Filipino
+35
+0.1pp
Spanish
+19
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Hinchinbrook (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 | |
| English | 3,760 | 17.2% | 19.8% | 3,459 | 15.9% | 19.6% | +301 | +1.3pp |
| Australian | 3,705 | 17.0% | 17.7% | 3,987 | 18.3% | 18.8% | -282 | -1.3pp |
| Italian | 3,009 | 13.8% | 1.6% | 3,107 | 14.3% | 1.5% | -98 | -0.5pp |
| Irish | 1,108 | 5.1% | 5.5% | 1,057 | 4.9% | 5.9% | +51 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 869 | 4.0% | 5.2% | 831 | 3.8% | 5.2% | +38 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 635 | 2.9% | 2.6% | 131 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +504 | +2.3pp |
| German | 405 | 1.9% | 3.2% | 453 | 2.1% | 3.3% | -48 | -0.2pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 129 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 40 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +89 | +0.4pp |
| Filipino | 114 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 79 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +35 | +0.1pp |
| Spanish | 106 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 87 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +19 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 21,848 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 21,760 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +88 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).