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 Girraween (NSW) were Indian, Tamil, nfd and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Girraween (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Girraween (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cumberland (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Girraween (NSW), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Indian
2021 count
2,241
% of total
35.8%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
2,241
35.8%
+2.7pp
Tamil, nfd
2021 count
872
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
+6.8pp
872
13.9%
+6.8pp
English
2021 count
545
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
545
8.7%
-2.0pp
Australian
2021 count
512
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
512
8.2%
-4.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
241
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
241
3.9%
-0.5pp
Maltese
2021 count
229
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
229
3.7%
-0.9pp
Sri Lankan
2021 count
196
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
196
3.1%
-2.1pp
Telugu
2021 count
148
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
148
2.4%
+2.2pp
Southern Asian, nfd
2021 count
144
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
144
2.3%
+1.4pp
Sri Lankan Tamil
2021 count
129
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
129
2.1%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Indian
+388
+2.7pp
Tamil, nfd
+473
+6.8pp
English
-55
-2.0pp
Australian
-183
-4.2pp
Chinese
-5
-0.5pp
Maltese
-30
-0.9pp
Sri Lankan
-94
-2.1pp
Telugu
+138
+2.2pp
Southern Asian, nfd
+92
+1.4pp
Sri Lankan Tamil
-25
-0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Girraween (NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cumberland (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cumberland (A)% | Count | % | Cumberland (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Indian | 2,241 | 35.8% | 8.7% | 1,853 | 33.1% | 8.4% | +388 | +2.7pp |
| Tamil, nfd | 872 | 13.9% | 2.2% | 399 | 7.1% | 1.0% | +473 | +6.8pp |
| English | 545 | 8.7% | 9.2% | 600 | 10.7% | 10.3% | -55 | -2.0pp |
| Australian | 512 | 8.2% | 10.6% | 695 | 12.4% | 11.9% | -183 | -4.2pp |
| Chinese | 241 | 3.9% | 12.6% | 246 | 4.4% | 12.7% | -5 | -0.5pp |
| Maltese | 229 | 3.7% | 1.3% | 259 | 4.6% | 1.6% | -30 | -0.9pp |
| Sri Lankan | 196 | 3.1% | 0.7% | 290 | 5.2% | 1.2% | -94 | -2.1pp |
| Telugu | 148 | 2.4% | 0.5% | 10 | 0.2% | 0.0% | +138 | +2.2pp |
| Southern Asian, nfd | 144 | 2.3% | 0.8% | 52 | 0.9% | 0.4% | +92 | +1.4pp |
| Sri Lankan Tamil | 129 | 2.1% | 0.3% | 154 | 2.8% | 0.6% | -25 | -0.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).