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 Brunswick East were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brunswick East - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brunswick East in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moreland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brunswick East, with comparison markers for Moreland (C).
English
2021 count
4,195
% of total
31.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
4,195
31.6%
+1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
3,175
% of total
23.9%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
3,175
23.9%
+2.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,980
% of total
14.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,980
14.9%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
1,565
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,565
11.8%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,536
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
1,536
11.6%
+1.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
656
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
656
4.9%
-0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
618
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
618
4.7%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
579
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
579
4.4%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
258
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
258
1.9%
+0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
224
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
224
1.7%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+691
+1.2pp
Australian
+659
+2.1pp
Irish
+245
-0.1pp
Italian
+101
-0.9pp
Scottish
+410
+1.8pp
Chinese
+79
-0.1pp
Greek
+41
-0.3pp
German
+122
+0.4pp
Dutch
+79
+0.3pp
Indian
+46
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brunswick East. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moreland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Moreland (C)% | Count | % | Moreland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 4,195 | 31.6% | 23.4% | 3,504 | 30.4% | 22.0% | +691 | +1.2pp |
| Australian | 3,175 | 23.9% | 21.4% | 2,516 | 21.8% | 20.0% | +659 | +2.1pp |
| Irish | 1,980 | 14.9% | 10.5% | 1,735 | 15.0% | 10.3% | +245 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 1,565 | 11.8% | 15.0% | 1,464 | 12.7% | 15.6% | +101 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 1,536 | 11.6% | 7.6% | 1,126 | 9.8% | 6.8% | +410 | +1.8pp |
| Chinese | 656 | 4.9% | 3.8% | 577 | 5.0% | 3.8% | +79 | -0.1pp |
| Greek | 618 | 4.7% | 5.9% | 577 | 5.0% | 6.1% | +41 | -0.3pp |
| German | 579 | 4.4% | 3.0% | 457 | 4.0% | 2.7% | +122 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 258 | 1.9% | 1.2% | 179 | 1.6% | 1.0% | +79 | +0.3pp |
| Indian | 224 | 1.7% | 3.2% | 178 | 1.5% | 3.4% | +46 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).