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 Canterbury-Bankstown (A) were Lebanese, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Canterbury-Bankstown (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Canterbury-Bankstown (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Canterbury-Bankstown (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Lebanese
2021 count
52,287
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
52,287
7.0%
-0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
51,641
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
51,641
7.0%
-0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
42,900
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
42,900
5.8%
+0.1pp
English
2021 count
42,043
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
42,043
5.7%
-0.4pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
26,994
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
26,994
3.6%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
22,504
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
22,504
3.0%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
14,497
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
14,497
2.0%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
12,244
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
12,244
1.7%
-0.3pp
Indian
2021 count
9,578
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
9,578
1.3%
+0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
8,510
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
8,510
1.1%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lebanese
-72
-0.6pp
Australian
+2,456
-0.1pp
Chinese
+3,619
+0.1pp
English
-395
-0.4pp
Vietnamese
+1,805
0.0pp
Greek
-231
-0.3pp
Italian
+329
0.0pp
Irish
-1,630
-0.3pp
Indian
+951
+0.1pp
Scottish
-760
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Canterbury-Bankstown (A). 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 | |
| Lebanese | 52,287 | 7.0% | 1.6% | 52,359 | 7.6% | 1.7% | -72 | -0.6pp |
| Australian | 51,641 | 7.0% | 11.2% | 49,185 | 7.1% | 11.8% | +2,456 | -0.1pp |
| Chinese | 42,900 | 5.8% | 5.3% | 39,281 | 5.7% | 5.1% | +3,619 | +0.1pp |
| English | 42,043 | 5.7% | 11.9% | 42,438 | 6.1% | 12.6% | -395 | -0.4pp |
| Vietnamese | 26,994 | 3.6% | 1.1% | 25,189 | 3.6% | 1.1% | +1,805 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 22,504 | 3.0% | 1.2% | 22,735 | 3.3% | 1.2% | -231 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 14,497 | 2.0% | 2.1% | 14,168 | 2.0% | 2.1% | +329 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 12,244 | 1.7% | 3.8% | 13,874 | 2.0% | 4.3% | -1,630 | -0.3pp |
| Indian | 9,578 | 1.3% | 2.3% | 8,627 | 1.2% | 2.0% | +951 | +0.1pp |
| Scottish | 8,510 | 1.1% | 3.0% | 9,270 | 1.3% | 3.2% | -760 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 742,059 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 692,598 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +49,461 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).