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 Capalaba were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Capalaba - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Capalaba in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Redland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Capalaba, with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
7,548
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
7,548
21.0%
+0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
6,432
% of total
17.9%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
6,432
17.9%
-3.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,050
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
2,050
5.7%
+1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
2,040
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
2,040
5.7%
+1.3pp
German
2021 count
1,117
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
1,117
3.1%
+0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
530
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
530
1.5%
-
Italian
2021 count
488
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
488
1.4%
-1.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
367
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
367
1.0%
-
Maori
2021 count
355
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
355
1.0%
+0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
332
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
332
0.9%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+7,147
+0.2pp
Australian
+6,018
-3.6pp
Scottish
+1,963
+1.2pp
Irish
+1,955
+1.3pp
German
+1,074
+0.9pp
Italian
+434
-1.4pp
Maori
+349
+0.7pp
Dutch
+312
-0.1pp
Filipino
+298
+0.5pp
New Zealander
+235
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Capalaba. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Redland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Redland (C)% | Count | % | Redland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 7,548 | 21.0% | 22.5% | 401 | 20.8% | 22.7% | +7,147 | +0.2pp |
| Australian | 6,432 | 17.9% | 17.8% | 414 | 21.5% | 17.9% | +6,018 | -3.6pp |
| Scottish | 2,050 | 5.7% | 6.1% | 87 | 4.5% | 6.1% | +1,963 | +1.2pp |
| Irish | 2,040 | 5.7% | 6.0% | 85 | 4.4% | 6.3% | +1,955 | +1.3pp |
| German | 1,117 | 3.1% | 3.0% | 43 | 2.2% | 3.2% | +1,074 | +0.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 530 | 1.5% | 1.4% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Italian | 488 | 1.4% | 1.3% | 54 | 2.8% | 1.2% | +434 | -1.4pp |
| Chinese | 367 | 1.0% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Maori | 355 | 1.0% | 0.7% | 6 | 0.3% | 0.7% | +349 | +0.7pp |
| Dutch | 332 | 0.9% | 1.1% | 20 | 1.0% | 1.0% | +312 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 35,942 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,926 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +34,016 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).