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 Campbelltown (C) (NSW) were Australian, English and Indian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Campbelltown (C) (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Campbelltown (C) (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Campbelltown (C) (NSW), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Australian
2021 count
43,804
% of total
12.4%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
43,804
12.4%
-1.8pp
English
2021 count
39,733
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
39,733
11.3%
-2.1pp
Indian
2021 count
10,590
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
10,590
3.0%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
10,142
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
10,142
2.9%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
8,831
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
8,831
2.5%
-0.6pp
Filipino
2021 count
7,190
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
7,190
2.0%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
6,785
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
6,785
1.9%
+1.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
6,052
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
6,052
1.7%
+0.1pp
Bangladeshi
2021 count
5,670
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
5,670
1.6%
+0.5pp
Samoan
2021 count
5,299
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
5,299
1.5%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-939
-1.8pp
English
-2,268
-2.1pp
Indian
+2,008
+0.3pp
Irish
-1,937
-0.9pp
Scottish
-959
-0.6pp
Filipino
+1,497
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+5,811
+1.6pp
Chinese
+1,160
+0.1pp
Bangladeshi
+2,147
+0.5pp
Samoan
+712
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Campbelltown (C) (NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 43,804 | 12.4% | 11.2% | 44,743 | 14.2% | 11.8% | -939 | -1.8pp |
| English | 39,733 | 11.3% | 11.9% | 42,001 | 13.4% | 12.6% | -2,268 | -2.1pp |
| Indian | 10,590 | 3.0% | 2.3% | 8,582 | 2.7% | 2.0% | +2,008 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 10,142 | 2.9% | 3.8% | 12,079 | 3.8% | 4.3% | -1,937 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 8,831 | 2.5% | 3.0% | 9,790 | 3.1% | 3.2% | -959 | -0.6pp |
| Filipino | 7,190 | 2.0% | 1.2% | 5,693 | 1.8% | 1.1% | +1,497 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 6,785 | 1.9% | 0.8% | 974 | 0.3% | 0.1% | +5,811 | +1.6pp |
| Chinese | 6,052 | 1.7% | 5.3% | 4,892 | 1.6% | 5.1% | +1,160 | +0.1pp |
| Bangladeshi | 5,670 | 1.6% | 0.3% | 3,523 | 1.1% | 0.2% | +2,147 | +0.5pp |
| Samoan | 5,299 | 1.5% | 0.3% | 4,587 | 1.5% | 0.3% | +712 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 353,028 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 314,005 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +39,023 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).