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 Sunset were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Sunset - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Sunset in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mount Isa (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sunset, with comparison markers for Mount Isa (C).
Australian
2021 count
760
% of total
35.6%
Change from 2016
-6.9pp
760
35.6%
-6.9pp
English
2021 count
639
% of total
29.9%
Change from 2016
-4.1pp
639
29.9%
-4.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
443
% of total
20.7%
Change from 2016
+18.5pp
443
20.7%
+18.5pp
Irish
2021 count
220
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
220
10.3%
-1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
148
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
148
6.9%
-1.9pp
Filipino
2021 count
91
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
91
4.3%
+1.7pp
German
2021 count
76
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
76
3.6%
-2.3pp
Italian
2021 count
65
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
65
3.0%
-0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
44
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
44
2.1%
+1.9pp
Maori
2021 count
36
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
36
1.7%
-1.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-169
-6.9pp
English
-104
-4.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+395
+18.5pp
Irish
-40
-1.6pp
Scottish
-45
-1.9pp
Filipino
+35
+1.7pp
German
-52
-2.3pp
Italian
-3
-0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
+40
+1.9pp
Maori
-33
-1.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Sunset. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Isa (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mount Isa (C)% | Count | % | Mount Isa (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 760 | 35.6% | 33.4% | 929 | 42.5% | 41.0% | -169 | -6.9pp |
| English | 639 | 29.9% | 28.5% | 743 | 34.0% | 30.3% | -104 | -4.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 443 | 20.7% | 19.1% | 48 | 2.2% | 3.2% | +395 | +18.5pp |
| Irish | 220 | 10.3% | 8.9% | 260 | 11.9% | 10.9% | -40 | -1.6pp |
| Scottish | 148 | 6.9% | 7.2% | 193 | 8.8% | 8.4% | -45 | -1.9pp |
| Filipino | 91 | 4.3% | 3.8% | 56 | 2.6% | 3.1% | +35 | +1.7pp |
| German | 76 | 3.6% | 4.4% | 128 | 5.9% | 4.9% | -52 | -2.3pp |
| Italian | 65 | 3.0% | 2.5% | 68 | 3.1% | 2.5% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 44 | 2.1% | 1.5% | 4 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +40 | +1.9pp |
| Maori | 36 | 1.7% | 2.3% | 69 | 3.2% | 2.3% | -33 | -1.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).