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 Brigalow were Australian, English and German.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brigalow - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brigalow in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Western Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brigalow, with comparison markers for Western Downs (R).
Australian
2021 count
74
% of total
20.7%
Change from 2016
+5.5pp
74
20.7%
+5.5pp
English
2021 count
59
% of total
16.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
59
16.5%
-0.8pp
German
2021 count
42
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
+9.0pp
42
11.8%
+9.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
20
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
20
5.6%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
16
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
16
4.5%
-2.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-2,496
+5.5pp
English
-2,864
-0.8pp
German
-424
+9.0pp
Scottish
-882
+0.3pp
Irish
-1,079
-2.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brigalow. 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 | 74 | 20.7% | 21.4% | 2,570 | 15.2% | 22.8% | -2,496 | +5.5pp |
| English | 59 | 16.5% | 18.9% | 2,923 | 17.3% | 17.7% | -2,864 | -0.8pp |
| German | 42 | 11.8% | 4.4% | 466 | 2.8% | 4.7% | -424 | +9.0pp |
| Scottish | 20 | 5.6% | 4.7% | 902 | 5.3% | 4.8% | -882 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 16 | 4.5% | 5.2% | 1,095 | 6.5% | 5.4% | -1,079 | -2.0pp |
| Total | 357 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 16,865 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -16,508 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).