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 Stafford were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Stafford - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Stafford in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Stafford, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
2,635
% of total
37.8%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
2,635
37.8%
-1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
2,354
% of total
33.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
2,354
33.7%
+0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
1,060
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
1,060
15.2%
-2.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
780
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
780
11.2%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
388
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
388
5.6%
-0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
385
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
385
5.5%
+0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
227
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
227
3.3%
+2.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
190
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
190
2.7%
+0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
147
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
147
2.1%
+0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
127
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
127
1.8%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+59
-1.5pp
Australian
+198
+0.8pp
Irish
-105
-2.6pp
Scottish
+35
-0.2pp
German
-28
-0.7pp
Italian
+67
+0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+182
+2.6pp
Chinese
+29
+0.2pp
Indian
+26
+0.3pp
Filipino
+14
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Stafford. 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 | 2,635 | 37.8% | 33.3% | 2,576 | 39.3% | 33.6% | +59 | -1.5pp |
| Australian | 2,354 | 33.7% | 27.9% | 2,156 | 32.9% | 28.1% | +198 | +0.8pp |
| Irish | 1,060 | 15.2% | 12.3% | 1,165 | 17.8% | 13.4% | -105 | -2.6pp |
| Scottish | 780 | 11.2% | 10.2% | 745 | 11.4% | 10.3% | +35 | -0.2pp |
| German | 388 | 5.6% | 5.2% | 416 | 6.3% | 5.3% | -28 | -0.7pp |
| Italian | 385 | 5.5% | 3.4% | 318 | 4.8% | 3.2% | +67 | +0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 227 | 3.3% | 1.7% | 45 | 0.7% | 0.2% | +182 | +2.6pp |
| Chinese | 190 | 2.7% | 7.7% | 161 | 2.5% | 7.2% | +29 | +0.2pp |
| Indian | 147 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 121 | 1.8% | 3.5% | +26 | +0.3pp |
| Filipino | 127 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 113 | 1.7% | 1.4% | +14 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).