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 Seaforth (Qld) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Seaforth (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Seaforth (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Seaforth (Qld), with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
English
2021 count
298
% of total
37.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
298
37.3%
-0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
285
% of total
35.6%
Change from 2016
-8.3pp
285
35.6%
-8.3pp
Irish
2021 count
89
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
89
11.1%
+3.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
86
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
86
10.8%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
49
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
49
6.1%
-0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
41
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-
41
5.1%
-
Italian
2021 count
22
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
22
2.8%
+1.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
17
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
17
2.1%
+0.3pp
Maltese
2021 count
12
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
12
1.5%
-0.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2
-0.2pp
Australian
-61
-8.3pp
Irish
+30
+3.6pp
Scottish
0
-0.1pp
German
-6
-0.9pp
Italian
+8
+1.0pp
Dutch
+3
+0.3pp
Maltese
-7
-0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Seaforth (Qld). 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 | 298 | 37.3% | 38.0% | 296 | 37.5% | 38.0% | +2 | -0.2pp |
| Australian | 285 | 35.6% | 38.3% | 346 | 43.9% | 41.3% | -61 | -8.3pp |
| Irish | 89 | 11.1% | 10.4% | 59 | 7.5% | 11.7% | +30 | +3.6pp |
| Scottish | 86 | 10.8% | 10.3% | 86 | 10.9% | 10.9% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| German | 49 | 6.1% | 6.2% | 55 | 7.0% | 6.6% | -6 | -0.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 41 | 5.1% | 4.8% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Italian | 22 | 2.8% | 3.2% | 14 | 1.8% | 3.0% | +8 | +1.0pp |
| Dutch | 17 | 2.1% | 1.4% | 14 | 1.8% | 1.3% | +3 | +0.3pp |
| Maltese | 12 | 1.5% | 3.2% | 19 | 2.4% | 3.1% | -7 | -0.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).