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 Warwick (Qld) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Warwick (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Warwick (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 Warwick (Qld), with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).
English
2021 count
5,160
% of total
42.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
5,160
42.0%
-0.8pp
Australian
2021 count
5,124
% of total
41.7%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
5,124
41.7%
-1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
1,683
% of total
13.7%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
1,683
13.7%
-1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,459
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
1,459
11.9%
+1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
897
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
897
7.3%
+6.6pp
German
2021 count
878
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
878
7.1%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
182
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
182
1.5%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
156
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
156
1.3%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
116
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
116
0.9%
-0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
102
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
102
0.8%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-94
-0.8pp
Australian
-152
-1.2pp
Irish
-170
-1.4pp
Scottish
+139
+1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+812
+6.6pp
German
-55
-0.5pp
Italian
-6
0.0pp
Filipino
+38
+0.3pp
Dutch
-5
-0.1pp
New Zealander
+38
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Warwick (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 | 5,160 | 42.0% | 41.2% | 5,254 | 42.8% | 41.1% | -94 | -0.8pp |
| Australian | 5,124 | 41.7% | 40.2% | 5,276 | 42.9% | 42.3% | -152 | -1.2pp |
| Irish | 1,683 | 13.7% | 13.3% | 1,853 | 15.1% | 14.1% | -170 | -1.4pp |
| Scottish | 1,459 | 11.9% | 11.4% | 1,320 | 10.7% | 10.9% | +139 | +1.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 897 | 7.3% | 4.9% | 85 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +812 | +6.6pp |
| German | 878 | 7.1% | 6.9% | 933 | 7.6% | 7.3% | -55 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 182 | 1.5% | 4.1% | 188 | 1.5% | 4.2% | -6 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 156 | 1.3% | 0.9% | 118 | 1.0% | 0.6% | +38 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 116 | 0.9% | 1.2% | 121 | 1.0% | 1.3% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 102 | 0.8% | 0.7% | 64 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +38 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).