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 Boulia (S) were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Boulia (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Boulia (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Boulia (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
185
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
+6.4pp
185
20.5%
+6.4pp
Australian
2021 count
172
% of total
19.0%
Change from 2016
-5.5pp
172
19.0%
-5.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
112
% of total
12.4%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
112
12.4%
+4.8pp
Irish
2021 count
40
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
40
4.4%
+0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
34
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
34
3.8%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
17
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17
1.9%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+66
+6.4pp
Australian
-34
-5.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+48
+4.8pp
Irish
+7
+0.5pp
Scottish
-2
-0.5pp
German
+1
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Boulia (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 | |
| English | 185 | 20.5% | 19.8% | 119 | 14.1% | 19.6% | +66 | +6.4pp |
| Australian | 172 | 19.0% | 17.7% | 206 | 24.5% | 18.8% | -34 | -5.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 112 | 12.4% | 2.6% | 64 | 7.6% | 0.6% | +48 | +4.8pp |
| Irish | 40 | 4.4% | 5.5% | 33 | 3.9% | 5.9% | +7 | +0.5pp |
| Scottish | 34 | 3.8% | 5.2% | 36 | 4.3% | 5.2% | -2 | -0.5pp |
| German | 17 | 1.9% | 3.2% | 16 | 1.9% | 3.3% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 903 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 842 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +61 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).