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 Balonne (S) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Balonne (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Balonne (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Balonne (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Australian
2021 count
1,887
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
1,887
22.0%
-3.3pp
English
2021 count
1,445
% of total
16.8%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,445
16.8%
-1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
801
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
+8.8pp
801
9.3%
+8.8pp
Irish
2021 count
420
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
420
4.9%
-1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
382
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
382
4.4%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
218
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
218
2.5%
-0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
41
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
41
0.5%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
33
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
33
0.4%
+0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
30
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-
30
0.3%
-
Italian
2021 count
28
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
28
0.3%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-323
-3.3pp
English
-115
-1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+757
+8.8pp
Irish
-109
-1.2pp
Scottish
-42
-0.5pp
German
-36
-0.4pp
Filipino
+17
+0.2pp
Dutch
+4
+0.1pp
Italian
-14
-0.2pp
Chinese
-11
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Balonne (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 1,887 | 22.0% | 17.7% | 2,210 | 25.3% | 18.8% | -323 | -3.3pp |
| English | 1,445 | 16.8% | 19.8% | 1,560 | 17.9% | 19.6% | -115 | -1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 801 | 9.3% | 2.6% | 44 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +757 | +8.8pp |
| Irish | 420 | 4.9% | 5.5% | 529 | 6.1% | 5.9% | -109 | -1.2pp |
| Scottish | 382 | 4.4% | 5.2% | 424 | 4.9% | 5.2% | -42 | -0.5pp |
| German | 218 | 2.5% | 3.2% | 254 | 2.9% | 3.3% | -36 | -0.4pp |
| Filipino | 41 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 24 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +17 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 33 | 0.4% | 0.8% | 29 | 0.3% | 0.7% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 30 | 0.3% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Italian | 28 | 0.3% | 1.6% | 42 | 0.5% | 1.5% | -14 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 8,588 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,739 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -151 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).