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 Sandiford were Australian, English and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Sandiford - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Sandiford in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sandiford, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Australian
2021 count
90
% of total
53.6%
Change from 2016
+12.5pp
90
53.6%
+12.5pp
English
2021 count
59
% of total
35.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
59
35.1%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
19
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+6.2pp
19
11.3%
+6.2pp
Irish
2021 count
18
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
18
10.7%
+0.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
14
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
14
8.3%
-3.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
13
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
13
7.7%
-2.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+18
+12.5pp
English
-2
+0.2pp
German
+10
+6.2pp
Irish
0
+0.4pp
Maltese
-7
-3.7pp
Scottish
-5
-2.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Sandiford. 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 | 90 | 53.6% | 38.3% | 72 | 41.1% | 41.3% | +18 | +12.5pp |
| English | 59 | 35.1% | 38.0% | 61 | 34.9% | 38.0% | -2 | +0.2pp |
| German | 19 | 11.3% | 6.2% | 9 | 5.1% | 6.6% | +10 | +6.2pp |
| Irish | 18 | 10.7% | 10.4% | 18 | 10.3% | 11.7% | 0 | +0.4pp |
| Maltese | 14 | 8.3% | 3.2% | 21 | 12.0% | 3.1% | -7 | -3.7pp |
| Scottish | 13 | 7.7% | 10.3% | 18 | 10.3% | 10.9% | -5 | -2.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).