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 Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld), with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
English
2021 count
1,827
% of total
38.9%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
1,827
38.9%
-2.3pp
Australian
2021 count
1,724
% of total
36.7%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
1,724
36.7%
+1.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
522
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
522
11.1%
-0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
500
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
500
10.7%
-2.7pp
German
2021 count
288
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
288
6.1%
-1.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
212
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
212
4.5%
+3.9pp
Maltese
2021 count
160
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
160
3.4%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
150
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
150
3.2%
-0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
109
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
109
2.3%
+0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
94
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
94
2.0%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-4
-2.3pp
Australian
+176
+1.9pp
Scottish
+1
-0.6pp
Irish
-95
-2.7pp
German
-47
-1.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+186
+3.9pp
Maltese
+18
+0.2pp
Italian
+4
-0.1pp
Chinese
+19
+0.3pp
Filipino
+19
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld). 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 | 1,827 | 38.9% | 38.0% | 1,831 | 41.2% | 38.0% | -4 | -2.3pp |
| Australian | 1,724 | 36.7% | 38.3% | 1,548 | 34.8% | 41.3% | +176 | +1.9pp |
| Scottish | 522 | 11.1% | 10.3% | 521 | 11.7% | 10.9% | +1 | -0.6pp |
| Irish | 500 | 10.7% | 10.4% | 595 | 13.4% | 11.7% | -95 | -2.7pp |
| German | 288 | 6.1% | 6.2% | 335 | 7.5% | 6.6% | -47 | -1.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 212 | 4.5% | 4.8% | 26 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +186 | +3.9pp |
| Maltese | 160 | 3.4% | 3.2% | 142 | 3.2% | 3.1% | +18 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 150 | 3.2% | 3.2% | 146 | 3.3% | 3.0% | +4 | -0.1pp |
| Chinese | 109 | 2.3% | 1.0% | 90 | 2.0% | 1.0% | +19 | +0.3pp |
| Filipino | 94 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 75 | 1.7% | 1.7% | +19 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).