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 Narellan Vale were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Narellan Vale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Narellan Vale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Camden (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Narellan Vale, with comparison markers for Camden (A).
Australian
2021 count
2,900
% of total
41.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,900
41.8%
-0.6pp
English
2021 count
2,606
% of total
37.6%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
2,606
37.6%
-3.7pp
Irish
2021 count
692
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
692
10.0%
-1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
616
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
616
8.9%
-1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
342
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
342
4.9%
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
270
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
270
3.9%
+3.3pp
German
2021 count
250
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
250
3.6%
-0.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
153
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
153
2.2%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
107
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
107
1.5%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
99
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
99
1.4%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-150
-0.6pp
English
-366
-3.7pp
Irish
-148
-1.7pp
Scottish
-115
-1.3pp
Italian
+24
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+226
+3.3pp
German
-37
-0.4pp
Maltese
-6
0.0pp
Indian
+40
+0.6pp
Dutch
+12
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Narellan Vale. 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 | 2,900 | 41.8% | 32.7% | 3,050 | 42.4% | 37.2% | -150 | -0.6pp |
| English | 2,606 | 37.6% | 28.9% | 2,972 | 41.3% | 34.7% | -366 | -3.7pp |
| Irish | 692 | 10.0% | 7.6% | 840 | 11.7% | 10.2% | -148 | -1.7pp |
| Scottish | 616 | 8.9% | 6.7% | 731 | 10.2% | 8.2% | -115 | -1.3pp |
| Italian | 342 | 4.9% | 7.4% | 318 | 4.4% | 6.9% | +24 | +0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 270 | 3.9% | 3.1% | 44 | 0.6% | 0.3% | +226 | +3.3pp |
| German | 250 | 3.6% | 2.7% | 287 | 4.0% | 3.3% | -37 | -0.4pp |
| Maltese | 153 | 2.2% | 2.8% | 159 | 2.2% | 2.8% | -6 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 107 | 1.5% | 4.1% | 67 | 0.9% | 2.1% | +40 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 99 | 1.4% | 1.0% | 87 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +12 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).