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 Eimeo were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Eimeo - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Eimeo in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Eimeo, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
English
2021 count
1,430
% of total
43.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,430
43.5%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
1,264
% of total
38.5%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
1,264
38.5%
-2.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
385
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
385
11.7%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
352
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
352
10.7%
-1.6pp
German
2021 count
225
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
225
6.8%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
123
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
123
3.7%
+3.0pp
Maltese
2021 count
71
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
71
2.2%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
56
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
56
1.7%
-0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
46
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
46
1.4%
-0.6pp
South African
2021 count
41
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
41
1.2%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+38
+0.4pp
Australian
-64
-2.6pp
Scottish
+20
+0.4pp
Irish
-44
-1.6pp
German
-3
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+100
+3.0pp
Maltese
+7
+0.2pp
Italian
-27
-0.9pp
Dutch
-20
-0.6pp
South African
-14
-0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Eimeo. 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 | 1,430 | 43.5% | 38.0% | 1,392 | 43.1% | 38.0% | +38 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 1,264 | 38.5% | 38.3% | 1,328 | 41.1% | 41.3% | -64 | -2.6pp |
| Scottish | 385 | 11.7% | 10.3% | 365 | 11.3% | 10.9% | +20 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 352 | 10.7% | 10.4% | 396 | 12.3% | 11.7% | -44 | -1.6pp |
| German | 225 | 6.8% | 6.2% | 228 | 7.1% | 6.6% | -3 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 123 | 3.7% | 4.8% | 23 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +100 | +3.0pp |
| Maltese | 71 | 2.2% | 3.2% | 64 | 2.0% | 3.1% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 56 | 1.7% | 3.2% | 83 | 2.6% | 3.0% | -27 | -0.9pp |
| Dutch | 46 | 1.4% | 1.4% | 66 | 2.0% | 1.3% | -20 | -0.6pp |
| South African | 41 | 1.2% | 0.7% | 55 | 1.7% | 0.6% | -14 | -0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).