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 Dalby were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Dalby - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Dalby in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Western Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dalby, with comparison markers for Western Downs (R).
Australian
2021 count
5,438
% of total
21.3%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
5,438
21.3%
-1.7pp
English
2021 count
4,981
% of total
19.5%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
4,981
19.5%
+3.8pp
Irish
2021 count
1,397
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,397
5.5%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
1,244
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
1,244
4.9%
+1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,214
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-4.1pp
1,214
4.8%
-4.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,071
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
1,071
4.2%
+3.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
322
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
322
1.3%
-
Dutch
2021 count
147
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
147
0.6%
-1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
115
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
115
0.5%
-0.7pp
New Zealander
2021 count
92
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-
92
0.4%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+5,381
-1.7pp
English
+4,942
+3.8pp
Irish
+1,384
+0.3pp
German
+1,236
+1.7pp
Scottish
+1,192
-4.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+1,068
+3.0pp
Dutch
+143
-1.0pp
Italian
+112
-0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Dalby. 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 | 5,438 | 21.3% | 21.4% | 57 | 23.0% | 22.8% | +5,381 | -1.7pp |
| English | 4,981 | 19.5% | 18.9% | 39 | 15.7% | 17.7% | +4,942 | +3.8pp |
| Irish | 1,397 | 5.5% | 5.2% | 13 | 5.2% | 5.4% | +1,384 | +0.3pp |
| German | 1,244 | 4.9% | 4.4% | 8 | 3.2% | 4.7% | +1,236 | +1.7pp |
| Scottish | 1,214 | 4.8% | 4.7% | 22 | 8.9% | 4.8% | +1,192 | -4.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 1,071 | 4.2% | 3.5% | 3 | 1.2% | 0.2% | +1,068 | +3.0pp |
| Filipino | 322 | 1.3% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| Dutch | 147 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 4 | 1.6% | 0.6% | +143 | -1.0pp |
| Italian | 115 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 3 | 1.2% | 0.4% | +112 | -0.7pp |
| New Zealander | 92 | 0.4% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Total | 25,490 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 248 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +25,242 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).