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 The Leap were Australian, English and Maltese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
The Leap - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for The Leap in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for The Leap, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Australian
2021 count
287
% of total
43.2%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
287
43.2%
+4.4pp
English
2021 count
249
% of total
37.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
249
37.5%
+1.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
60
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
60
9.0%
+1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
57
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
57
8.6%
-1.2pp
German
2021 count
49
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
49
7.4%
+1.6pp
Irish
2021 count
46
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
46
6.9%
-2.8pp
Italian
2021 count
21
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
21
3.2%
-1.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
18
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
18
2.7%
+1.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
13
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
13
2.0%
-0.5pp
Welsh
2021 count
10
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
10
1.5%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+38
+4.4pp
English
+17
+1.4pp
Maltese
+11
+1.4pp
Scottish
-6
-1.2pp
German
+12
+1.6pp
Irish
-16
-2.8pp
Italian
-6
-1.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+13
+1.9pp
Dutch
-3
-0.5pp
Welsh
+3
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for The Leap. 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 | 287 | 43.2% | 38.3% | 249 | 38.8% | 41.3% | +38 | +4.4pp |
| English | 249 | 37.5% | 38.0% | 232 | 36.1% | 38.0% | +17 | +1.4pp |
| Maltese | 60 | 9.0% | 3.2% | 49 | 7.6% | 3.1% | +11 | +1.4pp |
| Scottish | 57 | 8.6% | 10.3% | 63 | 9.8% | 10.9% | -6 | -1.2pp |
| German | 49 | 7.4% | 6.2% | 37 | 5.8% | 6.6% | +12 | +1.6pp |
| Irish | 46 | 6.9% | 10.4% | 62 | 9.7% | 11.7% | -16 | -2.8pp |
| Italian | 21 | 3.2% | 3.2% | 27 | 4.2% | 3.0% | -6 | -1.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 18 | 2.7% | 4.8% | 5 | 0.8% | 0.5% | +13 | +1.9pp |
| Dutch | 13 | 2.0% | 1.4% | 16 | 2.5% | 1.3% | -3 | -0.5pp |
| Welsh | 10 | 1.5% | 0.5% | 7 | 1.1% | 0.6% | +3 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).