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 Racecourse were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Racecourse - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Racecourse in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Racecourse, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Australian
2021 count
81
% of total
44.8%
Change from 2016
+6.2pp
81
44.8%
+6.2pp
English
2021 count
66
% of total
36.5%
Change from 2016
+13.7pp
66
36.5%
+13.7pp
Irish
2021 count
20
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
20
11.0%
+3.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
16
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
16
8.8%
+3.4pp
German
2021 count
16
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
16
8.8%
+1.7pp
Italian
2021 count
16
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
16
8.8%
+3.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
15
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
15
8.3%
-0.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+10
+6.2pp
English
+24
+13.7pp
Irish
+7
+3.9pp
Scottish
+6
+3.4pp
German
+3
+1.7pp
Italian
+6
+3.4pp
Maltese
-2
-0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Racecourse. 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 | |
| Australian | 81 | 44.8% | 38.3% | 71 | 38.6% | 41.3% | +10 | +6.2pp |
| English | 66 | 36.5% | 38.0% | 42 | 22.8% | 38.0% | +24 | +13.7pp |
| Irish | 20 | 11.0% | 10.4% | 13 | 7.1% | 11.7% | +7 | +3.9pp |
| Scottish | 16 | 8.8% | 10.3% | 10 | 5.4% | 10.9% | +6 | +3.4pp |
| German | 16 | 8.8% | 6.2% | 13 | 7.1% | 6.6% | +3 | +1.7pp |
| Italian | 16 | 8.8% | 3.2% | 10 | 5.4% | 3.0% | +6 | +3.4pp |
| Maltese | 15 | 8.3% | 3.2% | 17 | 9.2% | 3.1% | -2 | -0.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).