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 Sarina Beach were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Sarina Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Sarina Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sarina Beach, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Australian
2021 count
296
% of total
44.8%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
296
44.8%
-1.2pp
English
2021 count
254
% of total
38.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
254
38.4%
+0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
74
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
74
11.2%
-3.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
62
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
62
9.4%
-2.3pp
German
2021 count
48
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
48
7.3%
+1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
21
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-
21
3.2%
-
Maltese
2021 count
17
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
17
2.6%
+1.4pp
Polish
2021 count
12
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
12
1.8%
+1.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+13
-1.2pp
English
+23
+0.8pp
Irish
-19
-3.9pp
Scottish
-10
-2.3pp
German
+11
+1.3pp
Maltese
+10
+1.4pp
Polish
+12
+1.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Sarina Beach. 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 | 296 | 44.8% | 38.3% | 283 | 46.0% | 41.3% | +13 | -1.2pp |
| English | 254 | 38.4% | 38.0% | 231 | 37.6% | 38.0% | +23 | +0.8pp |
| Irish | 74 | 11.2% | 10.4% | 93 | 15.1% | 11.7% | -19 | -3.9pp |
| Scottish | 62 | 9.4% | 10.3% | 72 | 11.7% | 10.9% | -10 | -2.3pp |
| German | 48 | 7.3% | 6.2% | 37 | 6.0% | 6.6% | +11 | +1.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 21 | 3.2% | 4.8% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Maltese | 17 | 2.6% | 3.2% | 7 | 1.2% | 3.1% | +10 | +1.4pp |
| Polish | 12 | 1.8% | 0.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.3% | +12 | +1.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).