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 Brighton East (part) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brighton East (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brighton East (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Bayside (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brighton East (part), with comparison markers for Bayside (C).
English
2021 count
5,261
% of total
31.4%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
5,261
31.4%
-1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
4,514
% of total
26.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
4,514
26.9%
-0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
1,914
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,914
11.4%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,585
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,585
9.5%
-0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,164
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
1,164
6.9%
+1.9pp
Italian
2021 count
1,007
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,007
6.0%
+0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
840
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
840
5.0%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
668
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
668
4.0%
-0.3pp
Polish
2021 count
563
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
563
3.4%
-0.1pp
Russian
2021 count
352
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
352
2.1%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-17
-1.6pp
Australian
+147
-0.4pp
Irish
+69
-0.1pp
Scottish
-37
-0.6pp
Chinese
+369
+1.9pp
Italian
+109
+0.4pp
Greek
+74
+0.2pp
German
-17
-0.3pp
Polish
+8
-0.1pp
Russian
+8
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brighton East (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Bayside (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Bayside (C)% | Count | % | Bayside (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 5,261 | 31.4% | 38.0% | 5,278 | 33.0% | 38.0% | -17 | -1.6pp |
| Australian | 4,514 | 26.9% | 29.6% | 4,367 | 27.3% | 29.9% | +147 | -0.4pp |
| Irish | 1,914 | 11.4% | 13.2% | 1,845 | 11.5% | 13.6% | +69 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 1,585 | 9.5% | 11.4% | 1,622 | 10.1% | 11.4% | -37 | -0.6pp |
| Chinese | 1,164 | 6.9% | 4.7% | 795 | 5.0% | 3.7% | +369 | +1.9pp |
| Italian | 1,007 | 6.0% | 5.6% | 898 | 5.6% | 5.2% | +109 | +0.4pp |
| Greek | 840 | 5.0% | 4.1% | 766 | 4.8% | 3.8% | +74 | +0.2pp |
| German | 668 | 4.0% | 4.3% | 685 | 4.3% | 4.2% | -17 | -0.3pp |
| Polish | 563 | 3.4% | 1.9% | 555 | 3.5% | 1.8% | +8 | -0.1pp |
| Russian | 352 | 2.1% | 1.3% | 344 | 2.2% | 1.2% | +8 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).