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 (Vic.) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brunswick (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brunswick (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moreland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brunswick (Vic.), with comparison markers for Moreland (C).
English
2021 count
7,738
% of total
31.1%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
7,738
31.1%
+2.0pp
Australian
2021 count
6,266
% of total
25.2%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
6,266
25.2%
+2.8pp
Irish
2021 count
3,852
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
3,852
15.5%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,690
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
2,690
10.8%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
2,585
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
2,585
10.4%
-0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
1,581
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,581
6.4%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,191
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,191
4.8%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
1,090
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,090
4.4%
+0.4pp
Indian
2021 count
444
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
444
1.8%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
435
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
435
1.7%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+630
+2.0pp
Australian
+785
+2.8pp
Irish
+152
+0.4pp
Scottish
+207
+0.6pp
Italian
-60
-0.4pp
Greek
+23
0.0pp
Chinese
-83
-0.4pp
German
+100
+0.4pp
Indian
+18
+0.1pp
Dutch
+76
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brunswick (Vic.). 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 | 7,738 | 31.1% | 23.4% | 7,108 | 29.1% | 22.0% | +630 | +2.0pp |
| Australian | 6,266 | 25.2% | 21.4% | 5,481 | 22.4% | 20.0% | +785 | +2.8pp |
| Irish | 3,852 | 15.5% | 10.5% | 3,700 | 15.1% | 10.3% | +152 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 2,690 | 10.8% | 7.6% | 2,483 | 10.2% | 6.8% | +207 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 2,585 | 10.4% | 15.0% | 2,645 | 10.8% | 15.6% | -60 | -0.4pp |
| Greek | 1,581 | 6.4% | 5.9% | 1,558 | 6.4% | 6.1% | +23 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 1,191 | 4.8% | 3.8% | 1,274 | 5.2% | 3.8% | -83 | -0.4pp |
| German | 1,090 | 4.4% | 3.0% | 990 | 4.0% | 2.7% | +100 | +0.4pp |
| Indian | 444 | 1.8% | 3.2% | 426 | 1.7% | 3.4% | +18 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 435 | 1.7% | 1.2% | 359 | 1.5% | 1.0% | +76 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).