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 Te Kowai were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Te Kowai - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Te Kowai in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Te Kowai, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
English
2021 count
96
% of total
42.3%
Change from 2016
+10.6pp
96
42.3%
+10.6pp
Australian
2021 count
70
% of total
30.8%
Change from 2016
-16.0pp
70
30.8%
-16.0pp
Irish
2021 count
37
% of total
16.3%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
37
16.3%
+5.7pp
Maltese
2021 count
30
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
30
13.2%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
29
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
29
12.8%
+2.7pp
Italian
2021 count
24
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
+6.5pp
24
10.6%
+6.5pp
German
2021 count
18
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
-4.5pp
18
7.9%
-4.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+27
+10.6pp
Australian
-32
-16.0pp
Irish
+14
+5.7pp
Maltese
-1
-1.0pp
Scottish
+7
+2.7pp
Italian
+15
+6.5pp
German
-9
-4.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Te Kowai. 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 | 96 | 42.3% | 38.0% | 69 | 31.7% | 38.0% | +27 | +10.6pp |
| Australian | 70 | 30.8% | 38.3% | 102 | 46.8% | 41.3% | -32 | -16.0pp |
| Irish | 37 | 16.3% | 10.4% | 23 | 10.6% | 11.7% | +14 | +5.7pp |
| Maltese | 30 | 13.2% | 3.2% | 31 | 14.2% | 3.1% | -1 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 29 | 12.8% | 10.3% | 22 | 10.1% | 10.9% | +7 | +2.7pp |
| Italian | 24 | 10.6% | 3.2% | 9 | 4.1% | 3.0% | +15 | +6.5pp |
| German | 18 | 7.9% | 6.2% | 27 | 12.4% | 6.6% | -9 | -4.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).