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 (Qld) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brighton (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brighton (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brighton (Qld), with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
4,390
% of total
45.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
4,390
45.4%
+1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
3,623
% of total
37.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
3,623
37.5%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
1,499
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
1,499
15.5%
-1.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,347
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
1,347
13.9%
+1.3pp
German
2021 count
682
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
682
7.1%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
314
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
314
3.2%
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
274
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
274
2.8%
+2.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
167
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
167
1.7%
+0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
158
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
158
1.6%
0.0pp
Welsh
2021 count
110
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
110
1.1%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+179
+1.0pp
Australian
+94
+0.3pp
Irish
-113
-1.5pp
Scottish
+148
+1.3pp
German
+9
0.0pp
Italian
+57
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+236
+2.4pp
Dutch
+18
+0.1pp
New Zealander
+2
0.0pp
Welsh
+14
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brighton (Qld). 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 | 4,390 | 45.4% | 33.3% | 4,211 | 44.4% | 33.6% | +179 | +1.0pp |
| Australian | 3,623 | 37.5% | 27.9% | 3,529 | 37.2% | 28.1% | +94 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 1,499 | 15.5% | 12.3% | 1,612 | 17.0% | 13.4% | -113 | -1.5pp |
| Scottish | 1,347 | 13.9% | 10.2% | 1,199 | 12.6% | 10.3% | +148 | +1.3pp |
| German | 682 | 7.1% | 5.2% | 673 | 7.1% | 5.3% | +9 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 314 | 3.2% | 3.4% | 257 | 2.7% | 3.2% | +57 | +0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 274 | 2.8% | 1.7% | 38 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +236 | +2.4pp |
| Dutch | 167 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 149 | 1.6% | 1.4% | +18 | +0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 158 | 1.6% | 1.2% | 156 | 1.6% | 1.3% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Welsh | 110 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 96 | 1.0% | 0.7% | +14 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).