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 Paroo (S) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Paroo (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Paroo (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Paroo (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Australian
2021 count
666
% of total
20.0%
Change from 2016
-7.8pp
666
20.0%
-7.8pp
English
2021 count
558
% of total
16.7%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
558
16.7%
-2.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
536
% of total
16.1%
Change from 2016
+14.5pp
536
16.1%
+14.5pp
Irish
2021 count
146
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
146
4.4%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
141
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
141
4.2%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
79
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
79
2.4%
+0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
30
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-
30
0.9%
-
New Zealander
2021 count
18
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
18
0.5%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
18
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
18
0.5%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
13
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
13
0.4%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-242
-7.8pp
English
-54
-2.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+483
+14.5pp
Irish
-26
-0.9pp
Scottish
+3
0.0pp
German
+3
+0.1pp
New Zealander
+10
+0.3pp
Italian
+8
+0.2pp
Dutch
+8
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Paroo (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 | |
| Australian | 666 | 20.0% | 17.7% | 908 | 27.8% | 18.8% | -242 | -7.8pp |
| English | 558 | 16.7% | 19.8% | 612 | 18.8% | 19.6% | -54 | -2.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 536 | 16.1% | 2.6% | 53 | 1.6% | 0.6% | +483 | +14.5pp |
| Irish | 146 | 4.4% | 5.5% | 172 | 5.3% | 5.9% | -26 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 141 | 4.2% | 5.2% | 138 | 4.2% | 5.2% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| German | 79 | 2.4% | 3.2% | 76 | 2.3% | 3.3% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 30 | 0.9% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| New Zealander | 18 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 8 | 0.2% | 0.7% | +10 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 18 | 0.5% | 1.6% | 10 | 0.3% | 1.5% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 13 | 0.4% | 0.8% | 5 | 0.2% | 0.7% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 3,335 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,262 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +73 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).