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 Cobbitty were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cobbitty - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cobbitty in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Camden (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cobbitty, with comparison markers for Camden (A).
Australian
2021 count
1,589
% of total
37.8%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
1,589
37.8%
+1.9pp
English
2021 count
1,426
% of total
33.9%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
1,426
33.9%
-3.3pp
Irish
2021 count
395
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
395
9.4%
-0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
357
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
357
8.5%
+0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
314
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
314
7.5%
-0.3pp
Maltese
2021 count
191
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
191
4.5%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
135
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
135
3.2%
+3.1pp
German
2021 count
134
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
134
3.2%
0.0pp
Lebanese
2021 count
97
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
97
2.3%
+0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
83
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
83
2.0%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+849
+1.9pp
English
+658
-3.3pp
Irish
+189
-0.6pp
Italian
+195
+0.6pp
Scottish
+154
-0.3pp
Maltese
+102
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+132
+3.1pp
German
+68
0.0pp
Lebanese
+62
+0.6pp
Chinese
+47
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cobbitty. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Camden (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Camden (A)% | Count | % | Camden (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 1,589 | 37.8% | 32.7% | 740 | 35.9% | 37.2% | +849 | +1.9pp |
| English | 1,426 | 33.9% | 28.9% | 768 | 37.2% | 34.7% | +658 | -3.3pp |
| Irish | 395 | 9.4% | 7.6% | 206 | 10.0% | 10.2% | +189 | -0.6pp |
| Italian | 357 | 8.5% | 7.4% | 162 | 7.9% | 6.9% | +195 | +0.6pp |
| Scottish | 314 | 7.5% | 6.7% | 160 | 7.8% | 8.2% | +154 | -0.3pp |
| Maltese | 191 | 4.5% | 2.8% | 89 | 4.3% | 2.8% | +102 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 135 | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +132 | +3.1pp |
| German | 134 | 3.2% | 2.7% | 66 | 3.2% | 3.3% | +68 | 0.0pp |
| Lebanese | 97 | 2.3% | 1.9% | 35 | 1.7% | 1.4% | +62 | +0.6pp |
| Chinese | 83 | 2.0% | 2.4% | 36 | 1.7% | 2.1% | +47 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).