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 Cumberland (A) were Chinese, Lebanese and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cumberland (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cumberland (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cumberland (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Chinese
2021 count
29,748
% of total
12.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
29,748
12.6%
-0.1pp
Lebanese
2021 count
28,014
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
28,014
11.9%
-1.4pp
Australian
2021 count
24,868
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
24,868
10.6%
-1.3pp
English
2021 count
21,713
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
21,713
9.2%
-1.1pp
Indian
2021 count
20,417
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
20,417
8.7%
+0.3pp
Nepalese
2021 count
10,562
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
10,562
4.5%
+2.0pp
Turkish
2021 count
7,694
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
7,694
3.3%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
5,778
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
5,778
2.5%
+0.1pp
Korean
2021 count
5,503
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
5,503
2.3%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
5,261
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
5,261
2.2%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+2,363
-0.1pp
Lebanese
-640
-1.4pp
Australian
-892
-1.3pp
English
-538
-1.1pp
Indian
+2,274
+0.3pp
Nepalese
+5,059
+2.0pp
Turkish
+390
-0.1pp
Filipino
+524
+0.1pp
Korean
+231
-0.1pp
Irish
-1,025
-0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cumberland (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 | |
| Chinese | 29,748 | 12.6% | 10.6% | 27,385 | 12.7% | 10.1% | +2,363 | -0.1pp |
| Lebanese | 28,014 | 11.9% | 3.3% | 28,654 | 13.3% | 3.3% | -640 | -1.4pp |
| Australian | 24,868 | 10.6% | 22.3% | 25,760 | 11.9% | 23.5% | -892 | -1.3pp |
| English | 21,713 | 9.2% | 23.8% | 22,251 | 10.3% | 25.3% | -538 | -1.1pp |
| Indian | 20,417 | 8.7% | 4.5% | 18,143 | 8.4% | 4.0% | +2,274 | +0.3pp |
| Nepalese | 10,562 | 4.5% | 1.3% | 5,503 | 2.5% | 0.7% | +5,059 | +2.0pp |
| Turkish | 7,694 | 3.3% | 0.6% | 7,304 | 3.4% | 0.5% | +390 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 5,778 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 5,254 | 2.4% | 2.1% | +524 | +0.1pp |
| Korean | 5,503 | 2.3% | 1.3% | 5,272 | 2.4% | 1.3% | +231 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 5,261 | 2.2% | 7.7% | 6,286 | 2.9% | 8.6% | -1,025 | -0.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).