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 Fairfield (Qld) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Fairfield (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Fairfield (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield (Qld), with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
1,159
% of total
37.3%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
1,159
37.3%
+2.3pp
Australian
2021 count
924
% of total
29.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
924
29.7%
-0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
469
% of total
15.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
469
15.1%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
341
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
341
11.0%
-1.0pp
German
2021 count
193
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
193
6.2%
+0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
150
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
150
4.8%
-1.4pp
Italian
2021 count
98
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
98
3.2%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
89
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
89
2.9%
-0.4pp
Indian
2021 count
79
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
79
2.5%
+0.7pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
68
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
68
2.2%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+115
+2.3pp
Australian
+29
-0.3pp
Irish
0
-0.6pp
Scottish
-18
-1.0pp
German
+25
+0.6pp
Chinese
-35
-1.4pp
Italian
+3
0.0pp
Greek
-8
-0.4pp
Indian
+24
+0.7pp
Vietnamese
+12
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Fairfield (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 | 1,159 | 37.3% | 33.3% | 1,044 | 35.0% | 33.6% | +115 | +2.3pp |
| Australian | 924 | 29.7% | 27.9% | 895 | 30.0% | 28.1% | +29 | -0.3pp |
| Irish | 469 | 15.1% | 12.3% | 469 | 15.7% | 13.4% | 0 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 341 | 11.0% | 10.2% | 359 | 12.0% | 10.3% | -18 | -1.0pp |
| German | 193 | 6.2% | 5.2% | 168 | 5.6% | 5.3% | +25 | +0.6pp |
| Chinese | 150 | 4.8% | 7.7% | 185 | 6.2% | 7.2% | -35 | -1.4pp |
| Italian | 98 | 3.2% | 3.4% | 95 | 3.2% | 3.2% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 89 | 2.9% | 1.1% | 97 | 3.3% | 1.1% | -8 | -0.4pp |
| Indian | 79 | 2.5% | 3.7% | 55 | 1.8% | 3.5% | +24 | +0.7pp |
| Vietnamese | 68 | 2.2% | 1.9% | 56 | 1.9% | 1.8% | +12 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).