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 Rochedale were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Rochedale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Rochedale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rochedale, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
Chinese
2021 count
3,129
% of total
41.0%
Change from 2016
+12.4pp
3,129
41.0%
+12.4pp
English
2021 count
1,158
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
-6.9pp
1,158
15.2%
-6.9pp
Australian
2021 count
938
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
-6.7pp
938
12.3%
-6.7pp
Indian
2021 count
665
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
665
8.7%
+2.3pp
Korean
2021 count
416
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
416
5.5%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
272
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
272
3.6%
-2.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
239
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
239
3.1%
-1.7pp
German
2021 count
143
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
143
1.9%
-1.0pp
Taiwanese
2021 count
142
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
142
1.9%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
135
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
135
1.8%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+2,222
+12.4pp
English
+455
-6.9pp
Australian
+334
-6.7pp
Indian
+463
+2.3pp
Korean
+260
+0.6pp
Irish
+80
-2.4pp
Scottish
+88
-1.7pp
German
+50
-1.0pp
Taiwanese
+93
+0.4pp
Italian
+70
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Rochedale. 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 | |
| Chinese | 3,129 | 41.0% | 7.7% | 907 | 28.6% | 7.2% | +2,222 | +12.4pp |
| English | 1,158 | 15.2% | 33.3% | 703 | 22.1% | 33.6% | +455 | -6.9pp |
| Australian | 938 | 12.3% | 27.9% | 604 | 19.0% | 28.1% | +334 | -6.7pp |
| Indian | 665 | 8.7% | 3.7% | 202 | 6.4% | 3.5% | +463 | +2.3pp |
| Korean | 416 | 5.5% | 1.1% | 156 | 4.9% | 1.1% | +260 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 272 | 3.6% | 12.3% | 192 | 6.0% | 13.4% | +80 | -2.4pp |
| Scottish | 239 | 3.1% | 10.2% | 151 | 4.8% | 10.3% | +88 | -1.7pp |
| German | 143 | 1.9% | 5.2% | 93 | 2.9% | 5.3% | +50 | -1.0pp |
| Taiwanese | 142 | 1.9% | 0.4% | 49 | 1.5% | 0.3% | +93 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 135 | 1.8% | 3.4% | 65 | 2.0% | 3.2% | +70 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).