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 were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Sarina - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Sarina in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sarina, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Australian
2021 count
2,404
% of total
42.8%
Change from 2016
-5.1pp
2,404
42.8%
-5.1pp
English
2021 count
2,139
% of total
38.1%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
2,139
38.1%
+2.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
530
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
530
9.4%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
511
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
511
9.1%
-1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
419
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
+6.9pp
419
7.5%
+6.9pp
German
2021 count
336
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
336
6.0%
-1.2pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
162
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
162
2.9%
+2.0pp
Italian
2021 count
110
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
110
2.0%
-0.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
104
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
104
1.9%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
68
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
68
1.2%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-242
-5.1pp
English
+158
+2.2pp
Scottish
+2
-0.2pp
Irish
-50
-1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+386
+6.9pp
German
-62
-1.2pp
Torres Strait Islander
+115
+2.0pp
Italian
-25
-0.4pp
Maltese
+17
+0.3pp
Dutch
+12
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Sarina. 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 | 2,404 | 42.8% | 38.3% | 2,646 | 47.9% | 41.3% | -242 | -5.1pp |
| English | 2,139 | 38.1% | 38.0% | 1,981 | 35.9% | 38.0% | +158 | +2.2pp |
| Scottish | 530 | 9.4% | 10.3% | 528 | 9.6% | 10.9% | +2 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 511 | 9.1% | 10.4% | 561 | 10.2% | 11.7% | -50 | -1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 419 | 7.5% | 4.8% | 33 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +386 | +6.9pp |
| German | 336 | 6.0% | 6.2% | 398 | 7.2% | 6.6% | -62 | -1.2pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 162 | 2.9% | 2.0% | 47 | 0.9% | 0.3% | +115 | +2.0pp |
| Italian | 110 | 2.0% | 3.2% | 135 | 2.4% | 3.0% | -25 | -0.4pp |
| Maltese | 104 | 1.9% | 3.2% | 87 | 1.6% | 3.1% | +17 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 68 | 1.2% | 1.4% | 56 | 1.0% | 1.3% | +12 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).