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 Virginia (Qld) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Virginia (Qld) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Virginia (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Virginia (Qld), with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
933
% of total
39.0%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
933
39.0%
-2.0pp
Australian
2021 count
822
% of total
34.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
822
34.3%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
368
% of total
15.4%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
368
15.4%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
325
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
325
13.6%
+2.1pp
German
2021 count
141
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
141
5.9%
-0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
73
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
73
3.0%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
65
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
65
2.7%
+0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
57
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
57
2.4%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
41
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
41
1.7%
-0.5pp
Maori
2021 count
39
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
39
1.6%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+28
-2.0pp
Australian
+59
-0.2pp
Irish
+5
-1.0pp
Scottish
+71
+2.1pp
German
+4
-0.3pp
Indian
+7
0.0pp
Italian
+14
+0.4pp
Chinese
+17
+0.6pp
Dutch
-8
-0.5pp
Maori
+11
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Virginia (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 | 933 | 39.0% | 33.3% | 905 | 41.0% | 33.6% | +28 | -2.0pp |
| Australian | 822 | 34.3% | 27.9% | 763 | 34.5% | 28.1% | +59 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 368 | 15.4% | 12.3% | 363 | 16.4% | 13.4% | +5 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 325 | 13.6% | 10.2% | 254 | 11.5% | 10.3% | +71 | +2.1pp |
| German | 141 | 5.9% | 5.2% | 137 | 6.2% | 5.3% | +4 | -0.3pp |
| Indian | 73 | 3.0% | 3.7% | 66 | 3.0% | 3.5% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 65 | 2.7% | 3.4% | 51 | 2.3% | 3.2% | +14 | +0.4pp |
| Chinese | 57 | 2.4% | 7.7% | 40 | 1.8% | 7.2% | +17 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 41 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 49 | 2.2% | 1.4% | -8 | -0.5pp |
| Maori | 39 | 1.6% | 0.9% | 28 | 1.3% | 0.8% | +11 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).