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 Prospect (NSW) were Australian, English and Indian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Prospect (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Prospect (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Blacktown (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Prospect (NSW), with comparison markers for Blacktown (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,015
% of total
19.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,015
19.6%
-0.6pp
English
2021 count
849
% of total
16.4%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
849
16.4%
-3.9pp
Indian
2021 count
536
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
536
10.3%
+2.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
297
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
297
5.7%
+2.0pp
Maltese
2021 count
296
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
296
5.7%
-1.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
264
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
264
5.1%
0.0pp
Lebanese
2021 count
253
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
253
4.9%
+0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
238
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
238
4.6%
-1.6pp
Italian
2021 count
209
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
209
4.0%
-0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
175
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
175
3.4%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+73
-0.6pp
English
-97
-3.9pp
Indian
+150
+2.0pp
Chinese
+125
+2.0pp
Maltese
-29
-1.3pp
Filipino
+26
0.0pp
Lebanese
+60
+0.8pp
Irish
-52
-1.6pp
Italian
+1
-0.5pp
Scottish
-47
-1.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Prospect (NSW). 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 | 1,015 | 19.6% | 19.1% | 942 | 20.2% | 22.8% | +73 | -0.6pp |
| English | 849 | 16.4% | 16.8% | 946 | 20.3% | 20.7% | -97 | -3.9pp |
| Indian | 536 | 10.3% | 13.5% | 386 | 8.3% | 11.3% | +150 | +2.0pp |
| Chinese | 297 | 5.7% | 4.5% | 172 | 3.7% | 4.1% | +125 | +2.0pp |
| Maltese | 296 | 5.7% | 2.1% | 325 | 7.0% | 2.5% | -29 | -1.3pp |
| Filipino | 264 | 5.1% | 9.0% | 238 | 5.1% | 8.9% | +26 | 0.0pp |
| Lebanese | 253 | 4.9% | 1.5% | 193 | 4.1% | 1.6% | +60 | +0.8pp |
| Irish | 238 | 4.6% | 4.2% | 290 | 6.2% | 5.7% | -52 | -1.6pp |
| Italian | 209 | 4.0% | 2.3% | 208 | 4.5% | 2.6% | +1 | -0.5pp |
| Scottish | 175 | 3.4% | 3.5% | 222 | 4.8% | 4.4% | -47 | -1.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).