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 Finch Hatton were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Finch Hatton - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Finch Hatton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Finch Hatton, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
English
2021 count
197
% of total
37.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
197
37.1%
+0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
185
% of total
34.8%
Change from 2016
-8.9pp
185
34.8%
-8.9pp
Irish
2021 count
74
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
74
13.9%
+3.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
45
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
45
8.5%
-1.7pp
German
2021 count
37
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
37
7.0%
-0.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
35
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
35
6.6%
-2.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
21
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
21
4.0%
+3.4pp
Italian
2021 count
11
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
11
2.1%
+0.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+13
+0.2pp
Australian
-33
-8.9pp
Irish
+22
+3.5pp
Scottish
-6
-1.7pp
German
0
-0.4pp
Maltese
-8
-2.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+18
+3.4pp
Italian
+5
+0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Finch Hatton. 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 | 197 | 37.1% | 38.0% | 184 | 36.9% | 38.0% | +13 | +0.2pp |
| Australian | 185 | 34.8% | 38.3% | 218 | 43.7% | 41.3% | -33 | -8.9pp |
| Irish | 74 | 13.9% | 10.4% | 52 | 10.4% | 11.7% | +22 | +3.5pp |
| Scottish | 45 | 8.5% | 10.3% | 51 | 10.2% | 10.9% | -6 | -1.7pp |
| German | 37 | 7.0% | 6.2% | 37 | 7.4% | 6.6% | 0 | -0.4pp |
| Maltese | 35 | 6.6% | 3.2% | 43 | 8.6% | 3.1% | -8 | -2.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 21 | 4.0% | 4.8% | 3 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +18 | +3.4pp |
| Italian | 11 | 2.1% | 3.2% | 6 | 1.2% | 3.0% | +5 | +0.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).