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 No usual address (Qld) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
No usual address (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for No usual address (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Queensland and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for No usual address (Qld), with comparison markers for Queensland.
English
2021 count
4,536
% of total
30.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
4,536
30.9%
-1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
4,192
% of total
28.6%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
4,192
28.6%
-1.6pp
Irish
2021 count
1,293
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,293
8.8%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,229
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,229
8.4%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
783
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
783
5.3%
+4.5pp
German
2021 count
632
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
632
4.3%
-0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
341
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
341
2.3%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
208
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
208
1.4%
-0.3pp
New Zealander
2021 count
198
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
198
1.3%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
177
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
177
1.2%
-1.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+540
-1.0pp
Australian
+410
-1.6pp
Irish
+171
-0.2pp
Scottish
+143
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+687
+4.5pp
German
+9
-0.7pp
Italian
+71
+0.1pp
Dutch
-6
-0.3pp
New Zealander
+44
+0.1pp
Chinese
-104
-1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for No usual address (Qld). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Queensland.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Queensland% | Count | % | Queensland% | Count | pp | |
| English | 4,536 | 30.9% | 38.0% | 3,996 | 31.9% | 38.2% | +540 | -1.0pp |
| Australian | 4,192 | 28.6% | 33.5% | 3,782 | 30.2% | 35.1% | +410 | -1.6pp |
| Irish | 1,293 | 8.8% | 11.0% | 1,122 | 9.0% | 12.0% | +171 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,229 | 8.4% | 10.2% | 1,086 | 8.7% | 10.4% | +143 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 783 | 5.3% | 4.0% | 96 | 0.8% | 0.8% | +687 | +4.5pp |
| German | 632 | 4.3% | 6.0% | 623 | 5.0% | 6.3% | +9 | -0.7pp |
| Italian | 341 | 2.3% | 3.0% | 270 | 2.2% | 2.8% | +71 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 208 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 214 | 1.7% | 1.5% | -6 | -0.3pp |
| New Zealander | 198 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 154 | 1.2% | 1.4% | +44 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 177 | 1.2% | 3.1% | 281 | 2.2% | 2.9% | -104 | -1.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).