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 Meandarra were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Meandarra - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Meandarra in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Western Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Meandarra, with comparison markers for Western Downs (R).
English
2021 count
92
% of total
18.7%
Change from 2016
+5.1pp
92
18.7%
+5.1pp
Australian
2021 count
81
% of total
16.5%
Change from 2016
-22.1pp
81
16.5%
-22.1pp
Irish
2021 count
37
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
37
7.5%
+0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
35
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-
35
7.1%
-
German
2021 count
20
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-
20
4.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+86
+5.1pp
Australian
+64
-22.1pp
Irish
+34
+0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Meandarra. 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 | |
| English | 92 | 18.7% | 18.9% | 6 | 13.6% | 17.7% | +86 | +5.1pp |
| Australian | 81 | 16.5% | 21.4% | 17 | 38.6% | 22.8% | +64 | -22.1pp |
| Irish | 37 | 7.5% | 5.2% | 3 | 6.8% | 5.4% | +34 | +0.7pp |
| Scottish | 35 | 7.1% | 4.7% | - | - | 4.8% | - | - |
| German | 20 | 4.1% | 4.4% | - | - | 4.7% | - | - |
| Total | 491 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 44 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +447 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).