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 Doonside were Australian, English and Filipino.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Doonside - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Doonside in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Blacktown (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Doonside, with comparison markers for Blacktown (C).
Australian
2021 count
2,558
% of total
18.8%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
2,558
18.8%
-4.3pp
English
2021 count
2,283
% of total
16.8%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
2,283
16.8%
-2.7pp
Filipino
2021 count
1,783
% of total
13.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,783
13.1%
+1.4pp
Indian
2021 count
1,124
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,124
8.3%
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
570
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
570
4.2%
+3.5pp
Irish
2021 count
545
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
545
4.0%
-1.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
452
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
452
3.3%
+0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
398
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
398
2.9%
-0.6pp
Maltese
2021 count
320
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
320
2.4%
-0.2pp
Samoan
2021 count
289
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
289
2.1%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-543
-4.3pp
English
-339
-2.7pp
Filipino
+212
+1.4pp
Indian
+65
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+474
+3.5pp
Irish
-128
-1.0pp
Chinese
+16
+0.1pp
Scottish
-73
-0.6pp
Maltese
-25
-0.2pp
Samoan
-19
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Doonside. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Blacktown (C)% | Count | % | Blacktown (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 2,558 | 18.8% | 19.1% | 3,101 | 23.1% | 22.8% | -543 | -4.3pp |
| English | 2,283 | 16.8% | 16.8% | 2,622 | 19.5% | 20.7% | -339 | -2.7pp |
| Filipino | 1,783 | 13.1% | 9.0% | 1,571 | 11.7% | 8.9% | +212 | +1.4pp |
| Indian | 1,124 | 8.3% | 13.5% | 1,059 | 7.9% | 11.3% | +65 | +0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 570 | 4.2% | 2.7% | 96 | 0.7% | 0.4% | +474 | +3.5pp |
| Irish | 545 | 4.0% | 4.2% | 673 | 5.0% | 5.7% | -128 | -1.0pp |
| Chinese | 452 | 3.3% | 4.5% | 436 | 3.2% | 4.1% | +16 | +0.1pp |
| Scottish | 398 | 2.9% | 3.5% | 471 | 3.5% | 4.4% | -73 | -0.6pp |
| Maltese | 320 | 2.4% | 2.1% | 345 | 2.6% | 2.5% | -25 | -0.2pp |
| Samoan | 289 | 2.1% | 1.8% | 308 | 2.3% | 1.7% | -19 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).