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 Guildford (NSW) were Lebanese, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Guildford (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Guildford (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cumberland (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Guildford (NSW), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Lebanese
2021 count
5,839
% of total
24.2%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
5,839
24.2%
-3.6pp
Australian
2021 count
3,085
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,085
12.8%
-0.2pp
English
2021 count
2,228
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
2,228
9.2%
-1.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,592
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,592
6.6%
-0.8pp
Afghan
2021 count
895
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
895
3.7%
+0.6pp
Hazara
2021 count
835
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
835
3.5%
+1.8pp
Arab, nfd
2021 count
748
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
748
3.1%
+0.8pp
Turkish
2021 count
673
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
673
2.8%
+0.1pp
Pakistani
2021 count
559
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
559
2.3%
+0.7pp
Indian
2021 count
529
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
529
2.2%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lebanese
-376
-3.6pp
Australian
+193
-0.2pp
English
-44
-1.0pp
Chinese
-57
-0.8pp
Afghan
+194
+0.6pp
Hazara
+448
+1.8pp
Arab, nfd
+225
+0.8pp
Turkish
+70
+0.1pp
Pakistani
+196
+0.7pp
Indian
-40
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Guildford (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 | |
| Lebanese | 5,839 | 24.2% | 11.9% | 6,215 | 27.8% | 13.3% | -376 | -3.6pp |
| Australian | 3,085 | 12.8% | 10.6% | 2,892 | 13.0% | 11.9% | +193 | -0.2pp |
| English | 2,228 | 9.2% | 9.2% | 2,272 | 10.2% | 10.3% | -44 | -1.0pp |
| Chinese | 1,592 | 6.6% | 12.6% | 1,649 | 7.4% | 12.7% | -57 | -0.8pp |
| Afghan | 895 | 3.7% | 2.2% | 701 | 3.1% | 2.8% | +194 | +0.6pp |
| Hazara | 835 | 3.5% | 1.8% | 387 | 1.7% | 1.2% | +448 | +1.8pp |
| Arab, nfd | 748 | 3.1% | 1.7% | 523 | 2.3% | 1.3% | +225 | +0.8pp |
| Turkish | 673 | 2.8% | 3.3% | 603 | 2.7% | 3.4% | +70 | +0.1pp |
| Pakistani | 559 | 2.3% | 1.9% | 363 | 1.6% | 1.9% | +196 | +0.7pp |
| Indian | 529 | 2.2% | 8.7% | 569 | 2.5% | 8.4% | -40 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).