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 Killarney (Qld) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Killarney (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Killarney (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 Killarney (Qld), with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).
English
2021 count
401
% of total
43.7%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
401
43.7%
+3.3pp
Australian
2021 count
375
% of total
40.8%
Change from 2016
-6.9pp
375
40.8%
-6.9pp
Irish
2021 count
134
% of total
14.6%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
134
14.6%
+1.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
105
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
105
11.4%
+2.1pp
German
2021 count
74
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
74
8.1%
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
38
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
38
4.1%
+3.8pp
Filipino
2021 count
13
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
13
1.4%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+16
+3.3pp
Australian
-80
-6.9pp
Irish
+7
+1.3pp
Scottish
+16
+2.1pp
German
+7
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+35
+3.8pp
Filipino
-5
-0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Killarney (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 | 401 | 43.7% | 41.2% | 385 | 40.4% | 41.1% | +16 | +3.3pp |
| Australian | 375 | 40.8% | 40.2% | 455 | 47.7% | 42.3% | -80 | -6.9pp |
| Irish | 134 | 14.6% | 13.3% | 127 | 13.3% | 14.1% | +7 | +1.3pp |
| Scottish | 105 | 11.4% | 11.4% | 89 | 9.3% | 10.9% | +16 | +2.1pp |
| German | 74 | 8.1% | 6.9% | 67 | 7.0% | 7.3% | +7 | +1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 38 | 4.1% | 4.9% | 3 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +35 | +3.8pp |
| Filipino | 13 | 1.4% | 0.9% | 18 | 1.9% | 0.6% | -5 | -0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).