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 Barcaldine (R) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Barcaldine (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Barcaldine (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Barcaldine (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Australian
2021 count
1,268
% of total
22.3%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
1,268
22.3%
-2.5pp
English
2021 count
1,165
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,165
20.5%
+0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
314
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
314
5.5%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
273
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
273
4.8%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
202
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
202
3.6%
+3.5pp
German
2021 count
152
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
152
2.7%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
30
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
30
0.5%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
29
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
29
0.5%
+0.2pp
South African
2021 count
18
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
18
0.3%
+0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
17
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
17
0.3%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-148
-2.5pp
English
+36
+0.7pp
Irish
+12
+0.2pp
Scottish
-4
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+197
+3.5pp
German
-19
-0.3pp
Italian
+3
0.0pp
Chinese
+14
+0.2pp
South African
+7
+0.1pp
New Zealander
+14
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Barcaldine (R). 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 | 1,268 | 22.3% | 17.7% | 1,416 | 24.8% | 18.8% | -148 | -2.5pp |
| English | 1,165 | 20.5% | 19.8% | 1,129 | 19.8% | 19.6% | +36 | +0.7pp |
| Irish | 314 | 5.5% | 5.5% | 302 | 5.3% | 5.9% | +12 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 273 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 277 | 4.9% | 5.2% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 202 | 3.6% | 2.6% | 5 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +197 | +3.5pp |
| German | 152 | 2.7% | 3.2% | 171 | 3.0% | 3.3% | -19 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 30 | 0.5% | 1.6% | 27 | 0.5% | 1.5% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 29 | 0.5% | 0.8% | 15 | 0.3% | 0.8% | +14 | +0.2pp |
| South African | 18 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 11 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 17 | 0.3% | 0.6% | 3 | 0.1% | 0.7% | +14 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 5,679 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,702 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -23 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).