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 Topaz were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Topaz - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Topaz in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Tablelands (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Topaz, with comparison markers for Tablelands (R).
English
2021 count
77
% of total
43.5%
Change from 2016
-10.4pp
77
43.5%
-10.4pp
Australian
2021 count
57
% of total
32.2%
Change from 2016
-9.6pp
57
32.2%
-9.6pp
Irish
2021 count
34
% of total
19.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
34
19.2%
+2.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
16
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
16
9.0%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
15
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
15
8.5%
-1.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
13
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-
13
7.3%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-12
-10.4pp
Australian
-12
-9.6pp
Irish
+6
+2.2pp
Scottish
+2
+0.5pp
German
-2
-1.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Topaz. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Tablelands (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Tablelands (R)% | Count | % | Tablelands (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 77 | 43.5% | 38.3% | 89 | 53.9% | 38.6% | -12 | -10.4pp |
| Australian | 57 | 32.2% | 37.1% | 69 | 41.8% | 41.2% | -12 | -9.6pp |
| Irish | 34 | 19.2% | 12.5% | 28 | 17.0% | 12.9% | +6 | +2.2pp |
| Scottish | 16 | 9.0% | 10.7% | 14 | 8.5% | 11.1% | +2 | +0.5pp |
| German | 15 | 8.5% | 6.1% | 17 | 10.3% | 6.0% | -2 | -1.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 13 | 7.3% | 6.8% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).