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 Gargett were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Gargett - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Gargett in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gargett, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
English
2021 count
92
% of total
25.0%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
92
25.0%
-1.3pp
Australian
2021 count
78
% of total
21.2%
Change from 2016
+13.3pp
78
21.2%
+13.3pp
Irish
2021 count
28
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
-5.6pp
28
7.6%
-5.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
20
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
20
5.4%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
19
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-
19
5.2%
-
Maltese
2021 count
11
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-
11
3.0%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+72
-1.3pp
Australian
+72
+13.3pp
Irish
+18
-5.6pp
Scottish
+16
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Gargett. 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 | 92 | 25.0% | 19.0% | 20 | 26.3% | 19.0% | +72 | -1.3pp |
| Australian | 78 | 21.2% | 19.2% | 6 | 7.9% | 20.6% | +72 | +13.3pp |
| Irish | 28 | 7.6% | 5.2% | 10 | 13.2% | 5.9% | +18 | -5.6pp |
| Scottish | 20 | 5.4% | 5.1% | 4 | 5.3% | 5.4% | +16 | +0.1pp |
| German | 19 | 5.2% | 3.1% | - | - | 3.3% | - | - |
| Maltese | 11 | 3.0% | 1.6% | - | - | 1.6% | - | - |
| Total | 368 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 76 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +292 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).