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 New Farm were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
New Farm - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for New Farm in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for New Farm, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
4,576
% of total
37.5%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
4,576
37.5%
+3.9pp
Australian
2021 count
2,994
% of total
24.5%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
2,994
24.5%
+3.4pp
Irish
2021 count
2,133
% of total
17.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
2,133
17.5%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,578
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
1,578
12.9%
+1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
885
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
885
7.3%
+1.2pp
German
2021 count
719
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
719
5.9%
+0.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
493
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
493
4.0%
-0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
196
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
196
1.6%
0.0pp
French
2021 count
176
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
176
1.4%
+0.2pp
Polish
2021 count
163
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
163
1.3%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+357
+3.9pp
Australian
+343
+3.4pp
Irish
-13
+0.4pp
Scottish
+120
+1.3pp
Italian
+114
+1.2pp
German
+82
+0.8pp
Chinese
-34
-0.2pp
Dutch
0
0.0pp
French
+26
+0.2pp
Polish
+43
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for New Farm. 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 | 4,576 | 37.5% | 33.3% | 4,219 | 33.6% | 33.6% | +357 | +3.9pp |
| Australian | 2,994 | 24.5% | 27.9% | 2,651 | 21.1% | 28.1% | +343 | +3.4pp |
| Irish | 2,133 | 17.5% | 12.3% | 2,146 | 17.1% | 13.4% | -13 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 1,578 | 12.9% | 10.2% | 1,458 | 11.6% | 10.3% | +120 | +1.3pp |
| Italian | 885 | 7.3% | 3.4% | 771 | 6.1% | 3.2% | +114 | +1.2pp |
| German | 719 | 5.9% | 5.2% | 637 | 5.1% | 5.3% | +82 | +0.8pp |
| Chinese | 493 | 4.0% | 7.7% | 527 | 4.2% | 7.2% | -34 | -0.2pp |
| Dutch | 196 | 1.6% | 1.5% | 196 | 1.6% | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| French | 176 | 1.4% | 0.8% | 150 | 1.2% | 0.7% | +26 | +0.2pp |
| Polish | 163 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 120 | 1.0% | 0.7% | +43 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).