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 Clayfield were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Clayfield - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Clayfield in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Clayfield, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
4,160
% of total
38.2%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
4,160
38.2%
+1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
3,231
% of total
29.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
3,231
29.7%
+1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,836
% of total
16.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,836
16.8%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,414
% of total
13.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,414
13.0%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
649
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
649
6.0%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
416
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
416
3.8%
-0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
344
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
344
3.2%
-1.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
337
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
337
3.1%
+0.3pp
Nepalese
2021 count
326
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
326
3.0%
+2.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
185
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
185
1.7%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+271
+1.5pp
Australian
+197
+1.1pp
Irish
-8
-0.6pp
Scottish
+114
+0.7pp
German
+56
+0.4pp
Italian
+2
-0.1pp
Indian
-151
-1.5pp
Chinese
+39
+0.3pp
Nepalese
+242
+2.2pp
Dutch
+22
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Clayfield. 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 | 4,160 | 38.2% | 33.3% | 3,889 | 36.7% | 33.6% | +271 | +1.5pp |
| Australian | 3,231 | 29.7% | 27.9% | 3,034 | 28.6% | 28.1% | +197 | +1.1pp |
| Irish | 1,836 | 16.8% | 12.3% | 1,844 | 17.4% | 13.4% | -8 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 1,414 | 13.0% | 10.2% | 1,300 | 12.3% | 10.3% | +114 | +0.7pp |
| German | 649 | 6.0% | 5.2% | 593 | 5.6% | 5.3% | +56 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 416 | 3.8% | 3.4% | 414 | 3.9% | 3.2% | +2 | -0.1pp |
| Indian | 344 | 3.2% | 3.7% | 495 | 4.7% | 3.5% | -151 | -1.5pp |
| Chinese | 337 | 3.1% | 7.7% | 298 | 2.8% | 7.2% | +39 | +0.3pp |
| Nepalese | 326 | 3.0% | 0.5% | 84 | 0.8% | 0.3% | +242 | +2.2pp |
| Dutch | 185 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 163 | 1.5% | 1.4% | +22 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).