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 Shanes Park were Australian, Maltese and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Shanes Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Shanes Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Blacktown (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Shanes Park, with comparison markers for Blacktown (C).
Australian
2021 count
126
% of total
32.8%
Change from 2016
+7.7pp
126
32.8%
+7.7pp
Maltese
2021 count
92
% of total
24.0%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
92
24.0%
-2.8pp
English
2021 count
77
% of total
20.1%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
77
20.1%
-3.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
40
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
40
10.4%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
17
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
17
4.4%
+3.4pp
Lebanese
2021 count
13
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
13
3.4%
+0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
11
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
11
2.9%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
10
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
10
2.6%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
10
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
10
2.6%
-0.6pp
Indian
2021 count
10
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
10
2.6%
+1.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+24
+7.7pp
Maltese
-17
-2.8pp
English
-17
-3.0pp
Chinese
-1
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+13
+3.4pp
Lebanese
+3
+0.9pp
Irish
-5
-1.0pp
Scottish
+1
+0.4pp
Italian
-3
-0.6pp
Indian
+6
+1.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Shanes Park. 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 | 126 | 32.8% | 19.1% | 102 | 25.1% | 22.8% | +24 | +7.7pp |
| Maltese | 92 | 24.0% | 2.1% | 109 | 26.8% | 2.5% | -17 | -2.8pp |
| English | 77 | 20.1% | 16.8% | 94 | 23.1% | 20.7% | -17 | -3.0pp |
| Chinese | 40 | 10.4% | 4.5% | 41 | 10.1% | 4.1% | -1 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 17 | 4.4% | 2.7% | 4 | 1.0% | 0.4% | +13 | +3.4pp |
| Lebanese | 13 | 3.4% | 1.5% | 10 | 2.5% | 1.6% | +3 | +0.9pp |
| Irish | 11 | 2.9% | 4.2% | 16 | 3.9% | 5.7% | -5 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 10 | 2.6% | 3.5% | 9 | 2.2% | 4.4% | +1 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 10 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 13 | 3.2% | 2.6% | -3 | -0.6pp |
| Indian | 10 | 2.6% | 13.5% | 4 | 1.0% | 11.3% | +6 | +1.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).