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 Chances Plain were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Chances Plain - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Chances Plain in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Western Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Chances Plain, with comparison markers for Western Downs (R).
Australian
2021 count
84
% of total
53.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
84
53.2%
+0.2pp
English
2021 count
51
% of total
32.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
51
32.3%
-0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
15
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
15
9.5%
-1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
12
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
12
7.6%
+1.6pp
German
2021 count
12
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
12
7.6%
-1.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+4
+0.2pp
English
+1
-0.8pp
Irish
-2
-1.8pp
Scottish
+3
+1.6pp
German
-2
-1.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Chances Plain. 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 | 84 | 53.2% | 42.9% | 80 | 53.0% | 45.5% | +4 | +0.2pp |
| English | 51 | 32.3% | 37.8% | 50 | 33.1% | 35.3% | +1 | -0.8pp |
| Irish | 15 | 9.5% | 10.4% | 17 | 11.3% | 10.9% | -2 | -1.8pp |
| Scottish | 12 | 7.6% | 9.5% | 9 | 6.0% | 9.6% | +3 | +1.6pp |
| German | 12 | 7.6% | 8.8% | 14 | 9.3% | 9.3% | -2 | -1.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).