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 Ferny Grove were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Ferny Grove - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Ferny Grove in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ferny Grove, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
2,463
% of total
42.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
2,463
42.0%
-0.8pp
Australian
2021 count
2,188
% of total
37.3%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
2,188
37.3%
+1.8pp
Irish
2021 count
844
% of total
14.4%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
844
14.4%
-1.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
796
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
796
13.6%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
384
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
384
6.5%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
147
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
147
2.5%
-0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
125
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
125
2.1%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
115
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
115
2.0%
+0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
114
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
114
1.9%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
85
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
85
1.4%
+0.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+14
-0.8pp
Australian
+158
+1.8pp
Irish
-91
-1.9pp
Scottish
+22
+0.1pp
German
+7
-0.1pp
Italian
-13
-0.3pp
Indian
+27
+0.4pp
Dutch
+13
+0.2pp
Chinese
+5
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+55
+0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Ferny Grove. 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 | 2,463 | 42.0% | 33.3% | 2,449 | 42.8% | 33.6% | +14 | -0.8pp |
| Australian | 2,188 | 37.3% | 27.9% | 2,030 | 35.5% | 28.1% | +158 | +1.8pp |
| Irish | 844 | 14.4% | 12.3% | 935 | 16.3% | 13.4% | -91 | -1.9pp |
| Scottish | 796 | 13.6% | 10.2% | 774 | 13.5% | 10.3% | +22 | +0.1pp |
| German | 384 | 6.5% | 5.2% | 377 | 6.6% | 5.3% | +7 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 147 | 2.5% | 3.4% | 160 | 2.8% | 3.2% | -13 | -0.3pp |
| Indian | 125 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 98 | 1.7% | 3.5% | +27 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 115 | 2.0% | 1.5% | 102 | 1.8% | 1.4% | +13 | +0.2pp |
| Chinese | 114 | 1.9% | 7.7% | 109 | 1.9% | 7.2% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 85 | 1.4% | 1.7% | 30 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +55 | +0.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).