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 Heathwood were Indian, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Heathwood - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Heathwood in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Heathwood, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
Indian
2021 count
861
% of total
17.4%
Change from 2016
+6.0pp
861
17.4%
+6.0pp
English
2021 count
851
% of total
17.2%
Change from 2016
-6.2pp
851
17.2%
-6.2pp
Australian
2021 count
770
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
770
15.6%
-3.6pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
497
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
497
10.1%
-1.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
293
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
293
5.9%
-2.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
199
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
199
4.0%
-2.8pp
Punjabi
2021 count
196
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
196
4.0%
+3.8pp
Irish
2021 count
186
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
186
3.8%
-1.5pp
Nepalese
2021 count
142
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
142
2.9%
+1.4pp
Samoan
2021 count
127
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
127
2.6%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Indian
+543
+6.0pp
English
+197
-6.2pp
Australian
+233
-3.6pp
Vietnamese
+163
-1.9pp
Chinese
+72
-2.0pp
Scottish
+8
-2.8pp
Punjabi
+190
+3.8pp
Irish
+39
-1.5pp
Nepalese
+99
+1.4pp
Samoan
+52
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Heathwood. 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 | |
| Indian | 861 | 17.4% | 3.7% | 318 | 11.4% | 3.5% | +543 | +6.0pp |
| English | 851 | 17.2% | 33.3% | 654 | 23.4% | 33.6% | +197 | -6.2pp |
| Australian | 770 | 15.6% | 27.9% | 537 | 19.2% | 28.1% | +233 | -3.6pp |
| Vietnamese | 497 | 10.1% | 1.9% | 334 | 12.0% | 1.8% | +163 | -1.9pp |
| Chinese | 293 | 5.9% | 7.7% | 221 | 7.9% | 7.2% | +72 | -2.0pp |
| Scottish | 199 | 4.0% | 10.2% | 191 | 6.8% | 10.3% | +8 | -2.8pp |
| Punjabi | 196 | 4.0% | 0.5% | 6 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +190 | +3.8pp |
| Irish | 186 | 3.8% | 12.3% | 147 | 5.3% | 13.4% | +39 | -1.5pp |
| Nepalese | 142 | 2.9% | 0.5% | 43 | 1.5% | 0.3% | +99 | +1.4pp |
| Samoan | 127 | 2.6% | 0.6% | 75 | 2.7% | 0.5% | +52 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).