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 Baking Board were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Baking Board - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Baking Board in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Western Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Baking Board, with comparison markers for Western Downs (R).
Australian
2021 count
55
% of total
48.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
55
48.2%
+0.8pp
English
2021 count
48
% of total
42.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
48
42.1%
+0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
14
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
-6.3pp
14
12.3%
-6.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
10
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
10
8.8%
+1.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+9
+0.8pp
English
+8
+0.9pp
Irish
-4
-6.3pp
Scottish
+3
+1.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Baking Board. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Western Downs (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Western Downs (R)% | Count | % | Western Downs (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 55 | 48.2% | 42.9% | 46 | 47.4% | 45.5% | +9 | +0.8pp |
| English | 48 | 42.1% | 37.8% | 40 | 41.2% | 35.3% | +8 | +0.9pp |
| Irish | 14 | 12.3% | 10.4% | 18 | 18.6% | 10.9% | -4 | -6.3pp |
| Scottish | 10 | 8.8% | 9.5% | 7 | 7.2% | 9.6% | +3 | +1.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).