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 Moreton Bay (R) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Moreton Bay (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Moreton Bay (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Brisbane and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Moreton Bay (R), with comparison markers for Greater Brisbane.
English
2021 count
200,446
% of total
42.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
200,446
42.1%
-0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
177,297
% of total
37.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
177,297
37.2%
-1.0pp
Irish
2021 count
52,505
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
52,505
11.0%
-1.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
51,604
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
51,604
10.8%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
28,663
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
28,663
6.0%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
17,266
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
17,266
3.6%
+3.2pp
Italian
2021 count
11,701
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
11,701
2.5%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
8,567
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
8,567
1.8%
+0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
7,658
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
7,658
1.6%
-0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
7,501
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
7,501
1.6%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+18,478
-0.7pp
Australian
+14,621
-1.0pp
Irish
+75
-1.3pp
Scottish
+4,870
-0.2pp
German
+1,894
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+15,703
+3.2pp
Italian
+1,918
+0.2pp
Dutch
+1,406
+0.1pp
New Zealander
-29
-0.2pp
Filipino
+2,676
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Moreton Bay (R). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | pp | |
| English | 200,446 | 42.1% | 36.5% | 181,968 | 42.8% | 37.1% | +18,478 | -0.7pp |
| Australian | 177,297 | 37.2% | 31.6% | 162,676 | 38.2% | 32.3% | +14,621 | -1.0pp |
| Irish | 52,505 | 11.0% | 11.1% | 52,430 | 12.3% | 12.3% | +75 | -1.3pp |
| Scottish | 51,604 | 10.8% | 10.1% | 46,734 | 11.0% | 10.3% | +4,870 | -0.2pp |
| German | 28,663 | 6.0% | 5.7% | 26,769 | 6.3% | 6.0% | +1,894 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 17,266 | 3.6% | 2.8% | 1,563 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +15,703 | +3.2pp |
| Italian | 11,701 | 2.5% | 2.7% | 9,783 | 2.3% | 2.6% | +1,918 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 8,567 | 1.8% | 1.6% | 7,161 | 1.7% | 1.6% | +1,406 | +0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 7,658 | 1.6% | 1.4% | 7,687 | 1.8% | 1.6% | -29 | -0.2pp |
| Filipino | 7,501 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 4,825 | 1.1% | 1.3% | +2,676 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).