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 Womina were Australian, English and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Womina - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Womina in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Southern Downs (R) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Womina, with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).

Womina
Southern Downs (R)

Australian

2021 count

111

% of total

27.8%

Change from 2016

-4.5pp

English

2021 count

61

% of total

15.3%

Change from 2016

-3.5pp

Scottish

2021 count

18

% of total

4.5%

Change from 2016

-

German

2021 count

17

% of total

4.3%

Change from 2016

-

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

16

% of total

4.0%

Change from 2016

-2.3pp

Irish

2021 count

16

% of total

4.0%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Data table

Ancestry for Womina. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).

Ancestry for Womina. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).
Ancestry for Womina. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Southern Downs (R)%Count%Southern Downs (R)%Countpp
Australian11127.8%20.1%3132.3%21.1%+80-4.5pp
English6115.3%20.6%1818.8%20.5%+43-3.5pp
Scottish184.5%5.7%--5.4%--
German174.3%3.5%--3.7%--
Australian Aboriginal164.0%2.5%66.3%0.2%+10-2.3pp
Irish164.0%6.7%44.2%7.0%+12-0.2pp
Total399100.0%100.0%96100.0%100.0%+3030.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).