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 Greystanes were Australian, English and Lebanese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Greystanes - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Greystanes in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cumberland (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greystanes, with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Australian
2021 count
4,941
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
4,941
21.0%
-2.7pp
English
2021 count
3,867
% of total
16.4%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
3,867
16.4%
-2.7pp
Lebanese
2021 count
3,652
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
3,652
15.5%
+2.9pp
Maltese
2021 count
1,459
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
1,459
6.2%
-1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
1,431
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,431
6.1%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
1,301
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
1,301
5.5%
-1.6pp
Indian
2021 count
1,016
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,016
4.3%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
933
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
933
4.0%
+0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
797
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
797
3.4%
-0.6pp
Greek
2021 count
743
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
743
3.2%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-456
-2.7pp
English
-477
-2.7pp
Lebanese
+773
+2.9pp
Maltese
-184
-1.0pp
Italian
+10
-0.1pp
Irish
-317
-1.6pp
Indian
+48
+0.1pp
Chinese
+90
+0.3pp
Scottish
-122
-0.6pp
Greek
-59
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Greystanes. 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 | |
| Australian | 4,941 | 21.0% | 10.6% | 5,397 | 23.7% | 11.9% | -456 | -2.7pp |
| English | 3,867 | 16.4% | 9.2% | 4,344 | 19.1% | 10.3% | -477 | -2.7pp |
| Lebanese | 3,652 | 15.5% | 11.9% | 2,879 | 12.6% | 13.3% | +773 | +2.9pp |
| Maltese | 1,459 | 6.2% | 1.3% | 1,643 | 7.2% | 1.6% | -184 | -1.0pp |
| Italian | 1,431 | 6.1% | 2.1% | 1,421 | 6.2% | 2.3% | +10 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 1,301 | 5.5% | 2.2% | 1,618 | 7.1% | 2.9% | -317 | -1.6pp |
| Indian | 1,016 | 4.3% | 8.7% | 968 | 4.2% | 8.4% | +48 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 933 | 4.0% | 12.6% | 843 | 3.7% | 12.7% | +90 | +0.3pp |
| Scottish | 797 | 3.4% | 1.5% | 919 | 4.0% | 1.9% | -122 | -0.6pp |
| Greek | 743 | 3.2% | 1.0% | 802 | 3.5% | 1.1% | -59 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).