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 Algester were English, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Algester - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Algester in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Algester, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
2,242
% of total
24.9%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
2,242
24.9%
-5.0pp
Australian
2021 count
2,033
% of total
22.5%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
2,033
22.5%
-0.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,356
% of total
15.0%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
1,356
15.0%
+3.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
657
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
657
7.3%
-0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
626
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
626
6.9%
-2.4pp
Indian
2021 count
530
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
530
5.9%
+0.8pp
German
2021 count
373
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
373
4.1%
-0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
260
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
260
2.9%
+0.2pp
Maori
2021 count
199
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
199
2.2%
-0.3pp
Korean
2021 count
191
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
191
2.1%
+1.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-282
-5.0pp
Australian
+60
-0.9pp
Chinese
+343
+3.0pp
Scottish
-19
-0.7pp
Irish
-158
-2.4pp
Indian
+97
+0.8pp
German
-4
-0.4pp
Filipino
+36
+0.2pp
Maori
-13
-0.3pp
Korean
+142
+1.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Algester. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,242 | 24.9% | 33.3% | 2,524 | 29.9% | 33.6% | -282 | -5.0pp |
| Australian | 2,033 | 22.5% | 27.9% | 1,973 | 23.4% | 28.1% | +60 | -0.9pp |
| Chinese | 1,356 | 15.0% | 7.7% | 1,013 | 12.0% | 7.2% | +343 | +3.0pp |
| Scottish | 657 | 7.3% | 10.2% | 676 | 8.0% | 10.3% | -19 | -0.7pp |
| Irish | 626 | 6.9% | 12.3% | 784 | 9.3% | 13.4% | -158 | -2.4pp |
| Indian | 530 | 5.9% | 3.7% | 433 | 5.1% | 3.5% | +97 | +0.8pp |
| German | 373 | 4.1% | 5.2% | 377 | 4.5% | 5.3% | -4 | -0.4pp |
| Filipino | 260 | 2.9% | 1.7% | 224 | 2.7% | 1.4% | +36 | +0.2pp |
| Maori | 199 | 2.2% | 0.9% | 212 | 2.5% | 0.8% | -13 | -0.3pp |
| Korean | 191 | 2.1% | 1.1% | 49 | 0.6% | 1.1% | +142 | +1.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).