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 Applethorpe were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Applethorpe - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Applethorpe in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Southern Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Applethorpe, with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).
English
2021 count
230
% of total
40.3%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
230
40.3%
+1.9pp
Australian
2021 count
172
% of total
30.1%
Change from 2016
-6.9pp
172
30.1%
-6.9pp
Italian
2021 count
79
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
79
13.8%
-3.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
66
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
66
11.6%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
62
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
62
10.9%
-1.0pp
German
2021 count
41
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
41
7.2%
-0.8pp
Solomon Islander
2021 count
18
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-
18
3.2%
-
Timorese
2021 count
14
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-
14
2.5%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
11
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
11
1.9%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
10
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
10
1.8%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+34
+1.9pp
Australian
-17
-6.9pp
Italian
-8
-3.2pp
Scottish
+8
+0.2pp
Irish
+1
-1.0pp
German
0
-0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+3
+0.3pp
Dutch
+3
+0.4pp
Polish
+6
+1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Applethorpe. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Southern Downs (R)% | Count | % | Southern Downs (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 230 | 40.3% | 41.2% | 196 | 38.4% | 41.1% | +34 | +1.9pp |
| Australian | 172 | 30.1% | 40.2% | 189 | 37.0% | 42.3% | -17 | -6.9pp |
| Italian | 79 | 13.8% | 4.1% | 87 | 17.0% | 4.2% | -8 | -3.2pp |
| Scottish | 66 | 11.6% | 11.4% | 58 | 11.4% | 10.9% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 62 | 10.9% | 13.3% | 61 | 11.9% | 14.1% | +1 | -1.0pp |
| German | 41 | 7.2% | 6.9% | 41 | 8.0% | 7.3% | 0 | -0.8pp |
| Solomon Islander | 18 | 3.2% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Timorese | 14 | 2.5% | 0.1% | - | - | - | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 11 | 1.9% | 4.9% | 8 | 1.6% | 0.5% | +3 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 10 | 1.8% | 1.2% | 7 | 1.4% | 1.3% | +3 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).