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 Brookfield (Qld) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brookfield (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brookfield (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brookfield (Qld), with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
1,585
% of total
43.5%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
1,585
43.5%
+2.1pp
Australian
2021 count
1,104
% of total
30.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,104
30.3%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
568
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
568
15.6%
+1.8pp
Irish
2021 count
503
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
503
13.8%
-2.2pp
German
2021 count
224
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
224
6.2%
-1.1pp
South African
2021 count
126
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
126
3.5%
+0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
101
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
101
2.8%
-0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
85
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
85
2.3%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
71
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
71
2.0%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
71
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
71
2.0%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+125
+2.1pp
Australian
+37
0.0pp
Scottish
+82
+1.8pp
Irish
-62
-2.2pp
German
-35
-1.1pp
South African
+23
+0.6pp
Chinese
-10
-0.3pp
Indian
+18
+0.4pp
Dutch
+19
+0.5pp
Italian
-11
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brookfield (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 | 1,585 | 43.5% | 33.3% | 1,460 | 41.4% | 33.6% | +125 | +2.1pp |
| Australian | 1,104 | 30.3% | 27.9% | 1,067 | 30.3% | 28.1% | +37 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 568 | 15.6% | 10.2% | 486 | 13.8% | 10.3% | +82 | +1.8pp |
| Irish | 503 | 13.8% | 12.3% | 565 | 16.0% | 13.4% | -62 | -2.2pp |
| German | 224 | 6.2% | 5.2% | 259 | 7.3% | 5.3% | -35 | -1.1pp |
| South African | 126 | 3.5% | 0.8% | 103 | 2.9% | 0.7% | +23 | +0.6pp |
| Chinese | 101 | 2.8% | 7.7% | 111 | 3.1% | 7.2% | -10 | -0.3pp |
| Indian | 85 | 2.3% | 3.7% | 67 | 1.9% | 3.5% | +18 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 71 | 2.0% | 1.5% | 52 | 1.5% | 1.4% | +19 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 71 | 2.0% | 3.4% | 82 | 2.3% | 3.2% | -11 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).