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 Bell (Qld) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bell (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bell (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Western Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bell (Qld), with comparison markers for Western Downs (R).
Australian
2021 count
177
% of total
42.0%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
177
42.0%
-2.8pp
English
2021 count
167
% of total
39.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
167
39.7%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
65
% of total
15.4%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
65
15.4%
+5.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
50
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
50
11.9%
+2.5pp
German
2021 count
34
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
34
8.1%
-1.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
23
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
23
5.5%
+4.9pp
Italian
2021 count
12
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
12
2.9%
+0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
10
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
10
2.4%
+1.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
10
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
10
2.4%
+1.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-48
-2.8pp
English
-32
+0.1pp
Irish
+14
+5.2pp
Scottish
+3
+2.5pp
German
-16
-1.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
+20
+4.9pp
Italian
+1
+0.7pp
Dutch
+4
+1.2pp
Filipino
+6
+1.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bell (Qld). 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 | 177 | 42.0% | 42.9% | 225 | 44.8% | 45.5% | -48 | -2.8pp |
| English | 167 | 39.7% | 37.8% | 199 | 39.6% | 35.3% | -32 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 65 | 15.4% | 10.4% | 51 | 10.2% | 10.9% | +14 | +5.2pp |
| Scottish | 50 | 11.9% | 9.5% | 47 | 9.4% | 9.6% | +3 | +2.5pp |
| German | 34 | 8.1% | 8.8% | 50 | 10.0% | 9.3% | -16 | -1.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 23 | 5.5% | 7.0% | 3 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +20 | +4.9pp |
| Italian | 12 | 2.9% | 1.1% | 11 | 2.2% | 0.9% | +1 | +0.7pp |
| Dutch | 10 | 2.4% | 1.0% | 6 | 1.2% | 1.1% | +4 | +1.2pp |
| Filipino | 10 | 2.4% | 1.7% | 4 | 0.8% | 1.4% | +6 | +1.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).