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 Dows Creek were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Dows Creek - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Dows Creek in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dows Creek, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
English
2021 count
71
% of total
48.6%
Change from 2016
+6.7pp
71
48.6%
+6.7pp
Australian
2021 count
64
% of total
43.8%
Change from 2016
-5.5pp
64
43.8%
-5.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
22
% of total
15.1%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
22
15.1%
+1.9pp
Irish
2021 count
18
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
18
12.3%
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
12
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
-
12
8.2%
-
German
2021 count
11
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
11
7.5%
-1.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+14
+6.7pp
Australian
-3
-5.5pp
Scottish
+4
+1.9pp
Irish
+2
+0.5pp
German
-1
-1.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Dows Creek. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 71 | 48.6% | 38.0% | 57 | 41.9% | 38.0% | +14 | +6.7pp |
| Australian | 64 | 43.8% | 38.3% | 67 | 49.3% | 41.3% | -3 | -5.5pp |
| Scottish | 22 | 15.1% | 10.3% | 18 | 13.2% | 10.9% | +4 | +1.9pp |
| Irish | 18 | 12.3% | 10.4% | 16 | 11.8% | 11.7% | +2 | +0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 12 | 8.2% | 4.8% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| German | 11 | 7.5% | 6.2% | 12 | 8.8% | 6.6% | -1 | -1.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).