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 Pemulwuy (part) were Australian, Indian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Pemulwuy (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Pemulwuy (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cumberland (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Pemulwuy (part), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Australian
2021 count
858
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
858
15.5%
+0.5pp
Indian
2021 count
692
% of total
12.5%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
692
12.5%
-4.0pp
English
2021 count
653
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
653
11.8%
+0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
442
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
442
8.0%
-0.5pp
Filipino
2021 count
378
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
378
6.8%
-0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
336
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
336
6.1%
0.0pp
Lebanese
2021 count
274
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
274
5.0%
+1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
226
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
226
4.1%
-0.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
207
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
207
3.7%
+0.6pp
Afghan
2021 count
141
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
141
2.5%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+97
+0.5pp
Indian
-144
-4.0pp
English
+77
+0.4pp
Chinese
+13
-0.5pp
Filipino
+14
-0.4pp
Italian
+25
0.0pp
Lebanese
+82
+1.2pp
Irish
+7
-0.2pp
Maltese
+48
+0.6pp
Afghan
-11
-0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Pemulwuy (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 | |
| Australian | 858 | 15.5% | 10.6% | 761 | 15.0% | 11.9% | +97 | +0.5pp |
| Indian | 692 | 12.5% | 8.7% | 836 | 16.5% | 8.4% | -144 | -4.0pp |
| English | 653 | 11.8% | 9.2% | 576 | 11.4% | 10.3% | +77 | +0.4pp |
| Chinese | 442 | 8.0% | 12.6% | 429 | 8.5% | 12.7% | +13 | -0.5pp |
| Filipino | 378 | 6.8% | 2.5% | 364 | 7.2% | 2.4% | +14 | -0.4pp |
| Italian | 336 | 6.1% | 2.1% | 311 | 6.1% | 2.3% | +25 | 0.0pp |
| Lebanese | 274 | 5.0% | 11.9% | 192 | 3.8% | 13.3% | +82 | +1.2pp |
| Irish | 226 | 4.1% | 2.2% | 219 | 4.3% | 2.9% | +7 | -0.2pp |
| Maltese | 207 | 3.7% | 1.3% | 159 | 3.1% | 1.6% | +48 | +0.6pp |
| Afghan | 141 | 2.5% | 2.2% | 152 | 3.0% | 2.8% | -11 | -0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).