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 Kirkwood were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Kirkwood - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Kirkwood in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Kirkwood, with comparison markers for Gladstone (R).
Australian
2021 count
997
% of total
19.9%
Change from 2016
-9.7pp
997
19.9%
-9.7pp
English
2021 count
844
% of total
16.8%
Change from 2016
-12.8pp
844
16.8%
-12.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
201
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-
201
4.0%
-
Irish
2021 count
182
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-
182
3.6%
-
German
2021 count
165
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-
165
3.3%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
160
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-
160
3.2%
-
Filipino
2021 count
114
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-
114
2.3%
-
Indian
2021 count
80
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
80
1.6%
-
South African
2021 count
76
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
76
1.5%
-
Italian
2021 count
59
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
59
1.2%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+989
-9.7pp
English
+836
-12.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Kirkwood. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Gladstone (R)% | Count | % | Gladstone (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 997 | 19.9% | 20.7% | 8 | 29.6% | 21.6% | +989 | -9.7pp |
| English | 844 | 16.8% | 20.0% | 8 | 29.6% | 19.3% | +836 | -12.8pp |
| Scottish | 201 | 4.0% | 5.0% | - | - | 5.0% | - | - |
| Irish | 182 | 3.6% | 4.9% | - | - | 5.3% | - | - |
| German | 165 | 3.3% | 3.4% | - | - | 3.3% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 160 | 3.2% | 2.9% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Filipino | 114 | 2.3% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Indian | 80 | 1.6% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| South African | 76 | 1.5% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Italian | 59 | 1.2% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| Total | 5,017 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 27 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,990 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).