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 South Burnett (R) were English, Australian and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
South Burnett (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for South 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 South Burnett (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
English
2021 count
13,618
% of total
41.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
13,618
41.3%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
13,380
% of total
40.6%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
13,380
40.6%
-3.1pp
German
2021 count
3,476
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
3,476
10.5%
-1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
3,357
% of total
10.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
3,357
10.2%
-0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
3,226
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3,226
9.8%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,868
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
1,868
5.7%
+4.9pp
Italian
2021 count
423
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
423
1.3%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
392
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
392
1.2%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
377
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
377
1.1%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
239
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
239
0.7%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+460
+0.4pp
Australian
-694
-3.1pp
German
-314
-1.3pp
Irish
-95
-0.5pp
Scottish
+59
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+1,608
+4.9pp
Italian
+60
+0.2pp
Dutch
+14
0.0pp
Filipino
+79
+0.2pp
New Zealander
+12
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for South 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 | |
| English | 13,618 | 41.3% | 39.6% | 13,158 | 40.9% | 39.2% | +460 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 13,380 | 40.6% | 35.3% | 14,074 | 43.7% | 37.7% | -694 | -3.1pp |
| German | 3,476 | 10.5% | 6.3% | 3,790 | 11.8% | 6.6% | -314 | -1.3pp |
| Irish | 3,357 | 10.2% | 10.9% | 3,452 | 10.7% | 11.7% | -95 | -0.5pp |
| Scottish | 3,226 | 9.8% | 10.4% | 3,167 | 9.8% | 10.4% | +59 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 1,868 | 5.7% | 5.1% | 260 | 0.8% | 1.2% | +1,608 | +4.9pp |
| Italian | 423 | 1.3% | 3.2% | 363 | 1.1% | 3.0% | +60 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 392 | 1.2% | 1.5% | 378 | 1.2% | 1.4% | +14 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 377 | 1.1% | 1.3% | 298 | 0.9% | 1.0% | +79 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 239 | 0.7% | 1.2% | 227 | 0.7% | 1.3% | +12 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).