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 Merrylands (part) were Lebanese, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Merrylands (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Merrylands (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cumberland (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Merrylands (part), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Lebanese
2021 count
5,882
% of total
18.1%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
5,882
18.1%
-2.5pp
Australian
2021 count
3,547
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
3,547
10.9%
-0.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
3,255
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
3,255
10.0%
+0.5pp
English
2021 count
2,667
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
2,667
8.2%
-1.8pp
Afghan
2021 count
1,270
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,270
3.9%
-0.9pp
Indian
2021 count
1,263
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,263
3.9%
-1.1pp
Hazara
2021 count
1,085
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
1,085
3.3%
+1.8pp
Nepalese
2021 count
1,047
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
1,047
3.2%
+2.0pp
Turkish
2021 count
956
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
956
2.9%
-0.1pp
Arab, nfd
2021 count
794
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
794
2.4%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lebanese
-212
-2.5pp
Australian
+51
-0.9pp
Chinese
+452
+0.5pp
English
-302
-1.8pp
Afghan
-141
-0.9pp
Indian
-221
-1.1pp
Hazara
+651
+1.8pp
Nepalese
+700
+2.0pp
Turkish
+56
-0.1pp
Arab, nfd
+273
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Merrylands (part). 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 | 5,882 | 18.1% | 11.9% | 6,094 | 20.6% | 13.3% | -212 | -2.5pp |
| Australian | 3,547 | 10.9% | 10.6% | 3,496 | 11.8% | 11.9% | +51 | -0.9pp |
| Chinese | 3,255 | 10.0% | 12.6% | 2,803 | 9.5% | 12.7% | +452 | +0.5pp |
| English | 2,667 | 8.2% | 9.2% | 2,969 | 10.0% | 10.3% | -302 | -1.8pp |
| Afghan | 1,270 | 3.9% | 2.2% | 1,411 | 4.8% | 2.8% | -141 | -0.9pp |
| Indian | 1,263 | 3.9% | 8.7% | 1,484 | 5.0% | 8.4% | -221 | -1.1pp |
| Hazara | 1,085 | 3.3% | 1.8% | 434 | 1.5% | 1.2% | +651 | +1.8pp |
| Nepalese | 1,047 | 3.2% | 4.5% | 347 | 1.2% | 2.5% | +700 | +2.0pp |
| Turkish | 956 | 2.9% | 3.3% | 900 | 3.0% | 3.4% | +56 | -0.1pp |
| Arab, nfd | 794 | 2.4% | 1.7% | 521 | 1.8% | 1.3% | +273 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).