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 Lyra were Irish, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lyra - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lyra in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Southern Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lyra, with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).
Irish
2021 count
16
% of total
21.1%
Change from 2016
+14.9pp
16
21.1%
+14.9pp
English
2021 count
15
% of total
19.7%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
15
19.7%
+2.3pp
Australian
2021 count
10
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
-9.8pp
10
13.2%
-9.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Irish
-26
+14.9pp
English
-102
+2.3pp
Australian
-145
-9.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lyra. 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 | |
| Irish | 16 | 21.1% | 6.7% | 42 | 6.2% | 7.0% | -26 | +14.9pp |
| English | 15 | 19.7% | 20.6% | 117 | 17.4% | 20.5% | -102 | +2.3pp |
| Australian | 10 | 13.2% | 20.1% | 155 | 23.0% | 21.1% | -145 | -9.8pp |
| Total | 76 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 674 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -598 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).