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 North Mackay were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
North Mackay - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for North Mackay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for North Mackay, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
English
2021 count
2,494
% of total
40.3%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
2,494
40.3%
+2.1pp
Australian
2021 count
2,203
% of total
35.6%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
2,203
35.6%
-3.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
711
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
711
11.5%
-0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
698
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
698
11.3%
-0.7pp
German
2021 count
389
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
389
6.3%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
375
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+5.4pp
375
6.1%
+5.4pp
Italian
2021 count
179
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
179
2.9%
+0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
155
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
155
2.5%
+0.5pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
153
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
153
2.5%
+2.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
150
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
150
2.4%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+226
+2.1pp
Australian
-128
-3.7pp
Scottish
0
-0.5pp
Irish
-16
-0.7pp
German
+2
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+331
+5.4pp
Italian
+23
+0.3pp
Filipino
+35
+0.5pp
Torres Strait Islander
+133
+2.2pp
Maltese
-1
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for North Mackay. 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 | 2,494 | 40.3% | 38.0% | 2,268 | 38.2% | 38.0% | +226 | +2.1pp |
| Australian | 2,203 | 35.6% | 38.3% | 2,331 | 39.3% | 41.3% | -128 | -3.7pp |
| Scottish | 711 | 11.5% | 10.3% | 711 | 12.0% | 10.9% | 0 | -0.5pp |
| Irish | 698 | 11.3% | 10.4% | 714 | 12.0% | 11.7% | -16 | -0.7pp |
| German | 389 | 6.3% | 6.2% | 387 | 6.5% | 6.6% | +2 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 375 | 6.1% | 4.8% | 44 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +331 | +5.4pp |
| Italian | 179 | 2.9% | 3.2% | 156 | 2.6% | 3.0% | +23 | +0.3pp |
| Filipino | 155 | 2.5% | 2.0% | 120 | 2.0% | 1.7% | +35 | +0.5pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 153 | 2.5% | 2.0% | 20 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +133 | +2.2pp |
| Maltese | 150 | 2.4% | 3.2% | 151 | 2.5% | 3.1% | -1 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).