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 North Burnett (R) were Australian, English and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
North Burnett (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for North Burnett (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for North Burnett (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Australian
2021 count
4,044
% of total
40.2%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
4,044
40.2%
-3.4pp
English
2021 count
3,846
% of total
38.2%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
3,846
38.2%
+1.9pp
German
2021 count
1,016
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,016
10.1%
-1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
979
% of total
9.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
979
9.7%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
928
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
928
9.2%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
630
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+5.6pp
630
6.3%
+5.6pp
Filipino
2021 count
118
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
118
1.2%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
105
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
105
1.0%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
97
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
97
1.0%
-0.1pp
Nepalese
2021 count
94
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
94
0.9%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-524
-3.4pp
English
+46
+1.9pp
German
-160
-1.1pp
Scottish
-10
+0.3pp
Irish
-1
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+552
+5.6pp
Filipino
+9
+0.2pp
Italian
+3
0.0pp
Dutch
-16
-0.1pp
Nepalese
+60
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for North Burnett (R). 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 | 4,044 | 40.2% | 35.3% | 4,568 | 43.6% | 37.7% | -524 | -3.4pp |
| English | 3,846 | 38.2% | 39.6% | 3,800 | 36.3% | 39.2% | +46 | +1.9pp |
| German | 1,016 | 10.1% | 6.3% | 1,176 | 11.2% | 6.6% | -160 | -1.1pp |
| Scottish | 979 | 9.7% | 10.4% | 989 | 9.4% | 10.4% | -10 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 928 | 9.2% | 10.9% | 929 | 8.9% | 11.7% | -1 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 630 | 6.3% | 5.1% | 78 | 0.7% | 1.2% | +552 | +5.6pp |
| Filipino | 118 | 1.2% | 1.3% | 109 | 1.0% | 1.0% | +9 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 105 | 1.0% | 3.2% | 102 | 1.0% | 3.0% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 97 | 1.0% | 1.5% | 113 | 1.1% | 1.4% | -16 | -0.1pp |
| Nepalese | 94 | 0.9% | 0.2% | 34 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +60 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).