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 Western Downs (R) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Western Downs (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Western Downs (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Western Downs (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Australian
2021 count
14,503
% of total
21.4%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
14,503
21.4%
-1.4pp
English
2021 count
12,803
% of total
18.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
12,803
18.9%
+1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
3,526
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,526
5.2%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
3,207
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
3,207
4.7%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
2,983
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,983
4.4%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
2,376
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
2,376
3.5%
+3.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
581
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
581
0.9%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
364
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
364
0.5%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
347
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
347
0.5%
-0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
230
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
230
0.3%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-717
-1.4pp
English
+988
+1.2pp
Irish
-109
-0.2pp
Scottish
-13
-0.1pp
German
-135
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+2,215
+3.3pp
Filipino
+127
+0.2pp
Italian
+79
+0.1pp
Dutch
-24
-0.1pp
New Zealander
+38
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Western Downs (R). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 14,503 | 21.4% | 17.7% | 15,220 | 22.8% | 18.8% | -717 | -1.4pp |
| English | 12,803 | 18.9% | 19.8% | 11,815 | 17.7% | 19.6% | +988 | +1.2pp |
| Irish | 3,526 | 5.2% | 5.5% | 3,635 | 5.4% | 5.9% | -109 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 3,207 | 4.7% | 5.2% | 3,220 | 4.8% | 5.2% | -13 | -0.1pp |
| German | 2,983 | 4.4% | 3.2% | 3,118 | 4.7% | 3.3% | -135 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 2,376 | 3.5% | 2.6% | 161 | 0.2% | 0.6% | +2,215 | +3.3pp |
| Filipino | 581 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 454 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +127 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 364 | 0.5% | 1.6% | 285 | 0.4% | 1.5% | +79 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 347 | 0.5% | 0.8% | 371 | 0.6% | 0.7% | -24 | -0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 230 | 0.3% | 0.6% | 192 | 0.3% | 0.7% | +38 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 67,627 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 66,888 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +739 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).