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 Ballandean were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Ballandean - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Ballandean in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Southern Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ballandean, with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).
English
2021 count
147
% of total
23.7%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
147
23.7%
+6.6pp
Australian
2021 count
95
% of total
15.3%
Change from 2016
-4.5pp
95
15.3%
-4.5pp
Irish
2021 count
62
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
62
10.0%
+3.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
52
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
52
8.4%
+2.1pp
Italian
2021 count
31
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
31
5.0%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
18
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
18
2.9%
+1.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
10
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
10
1.6%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+34
+6.6pp
Australian
-36
-4.5pp
Irish
+20
+3.7pp
Scottish
+10
+2.1pp
Italian
+1
+0.5pp
German
+11
+1.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+1
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Ballandean. 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 | 147 | 23.7% | 20.6% | 113 | 17.1% | 20.5% | +34 | +6.6pp |
| Australian | 95 | 15.3% | 20.1% | 131 | 19.8% | 21.1% | -36 | -4.5pp |
| Irish | 62 | 10.0% | 6.7% | 42 | 6.3% | 7.0% | +20 | +3.7pp |
| Scottish | 52 | 8.4% | 5.7% | 42 | 6.3% | 5.4% | +10 | +2.1pp |
| Italian | 31 | 5.0% | 2.0% | 30 | 4.5% | 2.1% | +1 | +0.5pp |
| German | 18 | 2.9% | 3.5% | 7 | 1.1% | 3.7% | +11 | +1.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 10 | 1.6% | 2.5% | 9 | 1.4% | 0.2% | +1 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 621 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 662 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -41 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).