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 Wynnum West were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wynnum West - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wynnum West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wynnum West, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
5,250
% of total
41.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
5,250
41.0%
+0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
4,378
% of total
34.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
4,378
34.2%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,565
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
1,565
12.2%
-1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,397
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,397
10.9%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
698
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
698
5.5%
-0.2pp
Maori
2021 count
432
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
432
3.4%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
414
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
414
3.2%
+2.8pp
Filipino
2021 count
319
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
319
2.5%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
303
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
303
2.4%
+0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
291
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
291
2.3%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+205
+0.2pp
Australian
+165
+0.1pp
Irish
-93
-1.2pp
Scottish
+70
+0.2pp
German
-6
-0.2pp
Maori
-24
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+371
+2.8pp
Filipino
+23
+0.1pp
Italian
+39
+0.3pp
Chinese
+30
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wynnum West. 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 | 5,250 | 41.0% | 33.3% | 5,045 | 40.8% | 33.6% | +205 | +0.2pp |
| Australian | 4,378 | 34.2% | 27.9% | 4,213 | 34.1% | 28.1% | +165 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 1,565 | 12.2% | 12.3% | 1,658 | 13.4% | 13.4% | -93 | -1.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,397 | 10.9% | 10.2% | 1,327 | 10.7% | 10.3% | +70 | +0.2pp |
| German | 698 | 5.5% | 5.2% | 704 | 5.7% | 5.3% | -6 | -0.2pp |
| Maori | 432 | 3.4% | 0.9% | 456 | 3.7% | 0.8% | -24 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 414 | 3.2% | 1.7% | 43 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +371 | +2.8pp |
| Filipino | 319 | 2.5% | 1.7% | 296 | 2.4% | 1.4% | +23 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 303 | 2.4% | 3.4% | 264 | 2.1% | 3.2% | +39 | +0.3pp |
| Chinese | 291 | 2.3% | 7.7% | 261 | 2.1% | 7.2% | +30 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).