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 Mount Annan (part) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mount Annan (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mount Annan (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Camden (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Annan (part), with comparison markers for Camden (A).
Australian
2021 count
4,522
% of total
38.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
4,522
38.4%
-0.6pp
English
2021 count
3,888
% of total
33.0%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
3,888
33.0%
-3.3pp
Irish
2021 count
1,065
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
1,065
9.0%
-1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
994
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
994
8.4%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
613
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
613
5.2%
+0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
399
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
399
3.4%
+3.1pp
German
2021 count
344
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
344
2.9%
-0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
300
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
300
2.5%
+0.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
288
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
288
2.4%
+0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
268
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
268
2.3%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-46
-0.6pp
English
-356
-3.3pp
Irish
-189
-1.7pp
Scottish
-46
-0.5pp
Italian
+79
+0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
+368
+3.1pp
German
-6
-0.1pp
Indian
+29
+0.2pp
Maltese
+50
+0.4pp
Chinese
-25
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mount Annan (part). 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 | 4,522 | 38.4% | 32.7% | 4,568 | 39.0% | 37.2% | -46 | -0.6pp |
| English | 3,888 | 33.0% | 28.9% | 4,244 | 36.3% | 34.7% | -356 | -3.3pp |
| Irish | 1,065 | 9.0% | 7.6% | 1,254 | 10.7% | 10.2% | -189 | -1.7pp |
| Scottish | 994 | 8.4% | 6.7% | 1,040 | 8.9% | 8.2% | -46 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 613 | 5.2% | 7.4% | 534 | 4.6% | 6.9% | +79 | +0.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 399 | 3.4% | 3.1% | 31 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +368 | +3.1pp |
| German | 344 | 2.9% | 2.7% | 350 | 3.0% | 3.3% | -6 | -0.1pp |
| Indian | 300 | 2.5% | 4.1% | 271 | 2.3% | 2.1% | +29 | +0.2pp |
| Maltese | 288 | 2.4% | 2.8% | 238 | 2.0% | 2.8% | +50 | +0.4pp |
| Chinese | 268 | 2.3% | 2.4% | 293 | 2.5% | 2.1% | -25 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).