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 Brinsmead were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brinsmead - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brinsmead in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brinsmead, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
2,125
% of total
19.2%
Change from 2016
+5.5pp
2,125
19.2%
+5.5pp
Australian
2021 count
1,915
% of total
17.3%
Change from 2016
-14.2pp
1,915
17.3%
-14.2pp
Irish
2021 count
700
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
700
6.3%
+0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
597
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
597
5.4%
+1.3pp
German
2021 count
320
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
320
2.9%
-2.6pp
Italian
2021 count
283
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-
283
2.6%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
237
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-
237
2.1%
-
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
130
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
130
1.2%
-
Chinese
2021 count
130
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
130
1.2%
-
Japanese
2021 count
129
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
129
1.2%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,115
+5.5pp
Australian
+1,892
-14.2pp
Irish
+696
+0.8pp
Scottish
+594
+1.3pp
German
+316
-2.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brinsmead. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,125 | 19.2% | 17.2% | 10 | 13.7% | 17.5% | +2,115 | +5.5pp |
| Australian | 1,915 | 17.3% | 15.0% | 23 | 31.5% | 17.3% | +1,892 | -14.2pp |
| Irish | 700 | 6.3% | 5.2% | 4 | 5.5% | 5.8% | +696 | +0.8pp |
| Scottish | 597 | 5.4% | 4.7% | 3 | 4.1% | 4.7% | +594 | +1.3pp |
| German | 320 | 2.9% | 2.6% | 4 | 5.5% | 2.7% | +316 | -2.6pp |
| Italian | 283 | 2.6% | 2.5% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 237 | 2.1% | 3.5% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Torres Strait Islander | 130 | 1.2% | 2.2% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Chinese | 130 | 1.2% | 1.0% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| Japanese | 129 | 1.2% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Total | 11,039 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 73 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +10,966 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).