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 Douglas (S) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Douglas (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Douglas (S) 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 Douglas (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
4,457
% of total
18.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
4,457
18.1%
-0.3pp
Australian
2021 count
3,784
% of total
15.4%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
3,784
15.4%
-1.6pp
Irish
2021 count
1,277
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,277
5.2%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,178
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,178
4.8%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
934
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
934
3.8%
+2.7pp
Italian
2021 count
676
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
676
2.7%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
663
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
663
2.7%
0.0pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
264
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
264
1.1%
+1.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
188
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
188
0.8%
-0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
137
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
137
0.6%
0.0pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+137
-0.3pp
Australian
-194
-1.6pp
Irish
+8
-0.2pp
Scottish
+56
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+682
+2.7pp
Italian
+108
+0.3pp
German
+33
0.0pp
Torres Strait Islander
+236
+1.0pp
Dutch
-19
-0.1pp
New Zealander
-2
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Douglas (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 | 4,457 | 18.1% | 19.8% | 4,320 | 18.4% | 19.6% | +137 | -0.3pp |
| Australian | 3,784 | 15.4% | 17.7% | 3,978 | 17.0% | 18.8% | -194 | -1.6pp |
| Irish | 1,277 | 5.2% | 5.5% | 1,269 | 5.4% | 5.9% | +8 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,178 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 1,122 | 4.8% | 5.2% | +56 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 934 | 3.8% | 2.6% | 252 | 1.1% | 0.6% | +682 | +2.7pp |
| Italian | 676 | 2.7% | 1.6% | 568 | 2.4% | 1.5% | +108 | +0.3pp |
| German | 663 | 2.7% | 3.2% | 630 | 2.7% | 3.3% | +33 | 0.0pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 264 | 1.1% | 0.6% | 28 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +236 | +1.0pp |
| Dutch | 188 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 207 | 0.9% | 0.7% | -19 | -0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 137 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 139 | 0.6% | 0.7% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 24,638 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 23,429 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,209 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).