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 Schofields were Indian, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Schofields - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Schofields in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Blacktown (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Schofields, with comparison markers for Blacktown (C).
Indian
2021 count
4,112
% of total
27.0%
Change from 2016
+16.1pp
4,112
27.0%
+16.1pp
Australian
2021 count
2,367
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
-12.3pp
2,367
15.6%
-12.3pp
English
2021 count
2,114
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
-12.6pp
2,114
13.9%
-12.6pp
Filipino
2021 count
933
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
933
6.1%
+2.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
810
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
810
5.3%
+1.9pp
Irish
2021 count
556
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-4.7pp
556
3.7%
-4.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
437
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
437
2.9%
-3.4pp
Nepalese
2021 count
437
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
437
2.9%
+2.6pp
Punjabi
2021 count
389
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
389
2.6%
+1.7pp
Italian
2021 count
348
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
348
2.3%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Indian
+3,628
+16.1pp
Australian
+1,133
-12.3pp
English
+940
-12.6pp
Filipino
+781
+2.7pp
Chinese
+659
+1.9pp
Irish
+182
-4.7pp
Scottish
+160
-3.4pp
Nepalese
+425
+2.6pp
Punjabi
+350
+1.7pp
Italian
+186
-1.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Schofields. 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 | |
| Indian | 4,112 | 27.0% | 13.5% | 484 | 10.9% | 11.3% | +3,628 | +16.1pp |
| Australian | 2,367 | 15.6% | 19.1% | 1,234 | 27.9% | 22.8% | +1,133 | -12.3pp |
| English | 2,114 | 13.9% | 16.8% | 1,174 | 26.5% | 20.7% | +940 | -12.6pp |
| Filipino | 933 | 6.1% | 9.0% | 152 | 3.4% | 8.9% | +781 | +2.7pp |
| Chinese | 810 | 5.3% | 4.5% | 151 | 3.4% | 4.1% | +659 | +1.9pp |
| Irish | 556 | 3.7% | 4.2% | 374 | 8.4% | 5.7% | +182 | -4.7pp |
| Scottish | 437 | 2.9% | 3.5% | 277 | 6.3% | 4.4% | +160 | -3.4pp |
| Nepalese | 437 | 2.9% | 1.3% | 12 | 0.3% | 0.6% | +425 | +2.6pp |
| Punjabi | 389 | 2.6% | 2.6% | 39 | 0.9% | 0.8% | +350 | +1.7pp |
| Italian | 348 | 2.3% | 2.3% | 162 | 3.7% | 2.6% | +186 | -1.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).