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 Cottonvale (Qld) were English, Australian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cottonvale (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cottonvale (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Southern Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cottonvale (Qld), with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).
English
2021 count
53
% of total
34.6%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
53
34.6%
-3.9pp
Australian
2021 count
43
% of total
28.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
43
28.1%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
16
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
16
10.5%
+2.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
15
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
-
15
9.8%
-
Irish
2021 count
14
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
14
9.2%
-0.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-4
-3.9pp
Australian
+2
+0.4pp
Italian
+4
+2.4pp
Irish
-1
-0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cottonvale (Qld). 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 | 53 | 34.6% | 41.2% | 57 | 38.5% | 41.1% | -4 | -3.9pp |
| Australian | 43 | 28.1% | 40.2% | 41 | 27.7% | 42.3% | +2 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 16 | 10.5% | 4.1% | 12 | 8.1% | 4.2% | +4 | +2.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 15 | 9.8% | 4.9% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Irish | 14 | 9.2% | 13.3% | 15 | 10.1% | 14.1% | -1 | -0.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).