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 Highgate Hill were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Highgate Hill - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Highgate Hill in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Highgate Hill, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
1,856
% of total
29.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,856
29.8%
+0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
1,502
% of total
24.1%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
1,502
24.1%
+2.2pp
Irish
2021 count
905
% of total
14.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
905
14.5%
+0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
668
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
668
10.7%
+0.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
427
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
427
6.9%
+0.8pp
Greek
2021 count
410
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
410
6.6%
-1.3pp
German
2021 count
349
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
349
5.6%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
240
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
240
3.9%
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
183
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
183
2.9%
+1.1pp
Indian
2021 count
147
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
147
2.4%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+56
+0.7pp
Australian
+146
+2.2pp
Irish
+36
+0.5pp
Scottish
+55
+0.8pp
Chinese
+52
+0.8pp
Greek
-81
-1.3pp
German
+40
+0.6pp
Italian
+5
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
+71
+1.1pp
Indian
-14
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Highgate Hill. 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 | 1,856 | 29.8% | 33.3% | 1,800 | 29.1% | 33.6% | +56 | +0.7pp |
| Australian | 1,502 | 24.1% | 27.9% | 1,356 | 21.9% | 28.1% | +146 | +2.2pp |
| Irish | 905 | 14.5% | 12.3% | 869 | 14.0% | 13.4% | +36 | +0.5pp |
| Scottish | 668 | 10.7% | 10.2% | 613 | 9.9% | 10.3% | +55 | +0.8pp |
| Chinese | 427 | 6.9% | 7.7% | 375 | 6.1% | 7.2% | +52 | +0.8pp |
| Greek | 410 | 6.6% | 1.1% | 491 | 7.9% | 1.1% | -81 | -1.3pp |
| German | 349 | 5.6% | 5.2% | 309 | 5.0% | 5.3% | +40 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 240 | 3.9% | 3.4% | 235 | 3.8% | 3.2% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 183 | 2.9% | 1.9% | 112 | 1.8% | 1.8% | +71 | +1.1pp |
| Indian | 147 | 2.4% | 3.7% | 161 | 2.6% | 3.5% | -14 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).