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 Central Highlands (R) (Qld) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Central Highlands (R) (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Central Highlands (R) (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Central Highlands (R) (Qld), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Australian
2021 count
11,186
% of total
20.1%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
11,186
20.1%
-2.1pp
English
2021 count
10,127
% of total
18.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
10,127
18.2%
+0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
2,901
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,901
5.2%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,689
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,689
4.8%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
1,697
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,697
3.1%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,489
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
1,489
2.7%
+2.5pp
Maori
2021 count
498
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
498
0.9%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
463
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
463
0.8%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
426
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
426
0.8%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
318
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
318
0.6%
0.0pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-1,217
-2.1pp
English
+431
+0.9pp
Irish
-73
-0.1pp
Scottish
+70
+0.1pp
German
+34
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+1,358
+2.5pp
Maori
+100
+0.2pp
Italian
+2
0.0pp
Filipino
+102
+0.2pp
New Zealander
-26
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Central Highlands (R) (Qld). 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 | 11,186 | 20.1% | 17.7% | 12,403 | 22.2% | 18.8% | -1,217 | -2.1pp |
| English | 10,127 | 18.2% | 19.8% | 9,696 | 17.3% | 19.6% | +431 | +0.9pp |
| Irish | 2,901 | 5.2% | 5.5% | 2,974 | 5.3% | 5.9% | -73 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 2,689 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 2,619 | 4.7% | 5.2% | +70 | +0.1pp |
| German | 1,697 | 3.1% | 3.2% | 1,663 | 3.0% | 3.3% | +34 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 1,489 | 2.7% | 2.6% | 131 | 0.2% | 0.6% | +1,358 | +2.5pp |
| Maori | 498 | 0.9% | 0.5% | 398 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +100 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 463 | 0.8% | 1.6% | 461 | 0.8% | 1.5% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 426 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 324 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +102 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 318 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 344 | 0.6% | 0.7% | -26 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 55,616 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 55,986 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -370 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).