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 West Mackay were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
West Mackay - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for West Mackay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Mackay, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
English
2021 count
2,404
% of total
36.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
2,404
36.8%
+1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
2,360
% of total
36.1%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
2,360
36.1%
+1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
755
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
755
11.6%
-2.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
661
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
661
10.1%
-0.6pp
German
2021 count
349
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
349
5.3%
-0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
307
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
307
4.7%
+0.3pp
Maltese
2021 count
265
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
265
4.1%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
242
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
242
3.7%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
206
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
206
3.2%
+2.9pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
88
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
88
1.3%
+1.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+181
+1.0pp
Australian
+198
+1.3pp
Irish
-122
-2.5pp
Scottish
-1
-0.6pp
German
-8
-0.4pp
Filipino
+34
+0.3pp
Maltese
+24
+0.2pp
Italian
-2
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+189
+2.9pp
Torres Strait Islander
+77
+1.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for West Mackay. 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 | 2,404 | 36.8% | 38.0% | 2,223 | 35.8% | 38.0% | +181 | +1.0pp |
| Australian | 2,360 | 36.1% | 38.3% | 2,162 | 34.8% | 41.3% | +198 | +1.3pp |
| Irish | 755 | 11.6% | 10.4% | 877 | 14.1% | 11.7% | -122 | -2.5pp |
| Scottish | 661 | 10.1% | 10.3% | 662 | 10.7% | 10.9% | -1 | -0.6pp |
| German | 349 | 5.3% | 6.2% | 357 | 5.7% | 6.6% | -8 | -0.4pp |
| Filipino | 307 | 4.7% | 2.0% | 273 | 4.4% | 1.7% | +34 | +0.3pp |
| Maltese | 265 | 4.1% | 3.2% | 241 | 3.9% | 3.1% | +24 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 242 | 3.7% | 3.2% | 244 | 3.9% | 3.0% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 206 | 3.2% | 4.8% | 17 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +189 | +2.9pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 88 | 1.3% | 2.0% | 11 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +77 | +1.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).