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 Blacktown (C) were Australian, English and Indian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Blacktown (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Blacktown (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Blacktown (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Australian
2021 count
75,612
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
75,612
9.5%
-1.9pp
English
2021 count
66,767
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
66,767
8.4%
-1.9pp
Indian
2021 count
53,712
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
53,712
6.8%
+1.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
35,579
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
35,579
4.5%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
17,664
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
17,664
2.2%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
16,564
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
16,564
2.1%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
13,990
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
13,990
1.8%
-0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
10,868
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
10,868
1.4%
+1.2pp
Punjabi
2021 count
10,282
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
10,282
1.3%
+0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
9,144
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
9,144
1.2%
-0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-1,063
-1.9pp
English
-2,945
-1.9pp
Indian
+15,648
+1.2pp
Filipino
+5,655
+0.1pp
Chinese
+3,772
+0.1pp
Irish
-2,553
-0.7pp
Scottish
-972
-0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+9,469
+1.2pp
Punjabi
+7,485
+0.9pp
Italian
+501
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Blacktown (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 75,612 | 9.5% | 11.2% | 76,675 | 11.4% | 11.8% | -1,063 | -1.9pp |
| English | 66,767 | 8.4% | 11.9% | 69,712 | 10.3% | 12.6% | -2,945 | -1.9pp |
| Indian | 53,712 | 6.8% | 2.3% | 38,064 | 5.6% | 2.0% | +15,648 | +1.2pp |
| Filipino | 35,579 | 4.5% | 1.2% | 29,924 | 4.4% | 1.1% | +5,655 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 17,664 | 2.2% | 5.3% | 13,892 | 2.1% | 5.1% | +3,772 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 16,564 | 2.1% | 3.8% | 19,117 | 2.8% | 4.3% | -2,553 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 13,990 | 1.8% | 3.0% | 14,962 | 2.2% | 3.2% | -972 | -0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 10,868 | 1.4% | 0.8% | 1,399 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +9,469 | +1.2pp |
| Punjabi | 10,282 | 1.3% | 0.2% | 2,797 | 0.4% | 0.1% | +7,485 | +0.9pp |
| Italian | 9,144 | 1.2% | 2.1% | 8,643 | 1.3% | 2.1% | +501 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 793,536 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 673,953 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +119,583 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).