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 Karana Downs were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Karana Downs - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Karana Downs in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Karana Downs, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
1,770
% of total
46.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,770
46.6%
-0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,398
% of total
36.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,398
36.8%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
525
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
525
13.8%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
518
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
518
13.6%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
328
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
328
8.6%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
127
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
127
3.3%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
108
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
108
2.8%
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
98
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
98
2.6%
+2.2pp
South African
2021 count
58
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
58
1.5%
+0.3pp
Maori
2021 count
48
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
48
1.3%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-54
-0.6pp
Australian
-25
0.0pp
Scottish
-1
+0.2pp
Irish
-5
+0.1pp
German
-4
0.0pp
Dutch
+12
+0.3pp
Italian
+20
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+83
+2.2pp
South African
+10
+0.3pp
Maori
+22
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Karana Downs. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,770 | 46.6% | 33.3% | 1,824 | 47.2% | 33.6% | -54 | -0.6pp |
| Australian | 1,398 | 36.8% | 27.9% | 1,423 | 36.8% | 28.1% | -25 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 525 | 13.8% | 10.2% | 526 | 13.6% | 10.3% | -1 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 518 | 13.6% | 12.3% | 523 | 13.5% | 13.4% | -5 | +0.1pp |
| German | 328 | 8.6% | 5.2% | 332 | 8.6% | 5.3% | -4 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 127 | 3.3% | 1.5% | 115 | 3.0% | 1.4% | +12 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 108 | 2.8% | 3.4% | 88 | 2.3% | 3.2% | +20 | +0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 98 | 2.6% | 1.7% | 15 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +83 | +2.2pp |
| South African | 58 | 1.5% | 0.8% | 48 | 1.2% | 0.7% | +10 | +0.3pp |
| Maori | 48 | 1.3% | 0.9% | 26 | 0.7% | 0.8% | +22 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).