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 Salisbury (Qld) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Salisbury (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Salisbury (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Salisbury (Qld), with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
2,350
% of total
34.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,350
34.6%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
2,212
% of total
32.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
2,212
32.6%
+1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
840
% of total
12.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
840
12.4%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
745
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
745
11.0%
+0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
354
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
354
5.2%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
349
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
349
5.1%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
298
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
298
4.4%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
214
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
214
3.2%
+0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
171
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
171
2.5%
+2.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
115
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
115
1.7%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+169
-0.1pp
Australian
+236
+1.2pp
Irish
+57
0.0pp
Scottish
+63
+0.2pp
Chinese
+36
+0.1pp
German
+31
0.0pp
Indian
+22
0.0pp
Italian
+54
+0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+145
+2.1pp
Vietnamese
+30
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Salisbury (Qld). 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 | 2,350 | 34.6% | 33.3% | 2,181 | 34.7% | 33.6% | +169 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 2,212 | 32.6% | 27.9% | 1,976 | 31.4% | 28.1% | +236 | +1.2pp |
| Irish | 840 | 12.4% | 12.3% | 783 | 12.4% | 13.4% | +57 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 745 | 11.0% | 10.2% | 682 | 10.8% | 10.3% | +63 | +0.2pp |
| Chinese | 354 | 5.2% | 7.7% | 318 | 5.1% | 7.2% | +36 | +0.1pp |
| German | 349 | 5.1% | 5.2% | 318 | 5.1% | 5.3% | +31 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 298 | 4.4% | 3.7% | 276 | 4.4% | 3.5% | +22 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 214 | 3.2% | 3.4% | 160 | 2.5% | 3.2% | +54 | +0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 171 | 2.5% | 1.7% | 26 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +145 | +2.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 115 | 1.7% | 1.9% | 85 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +30 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).