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 Westmead (part) were Indian, Chinese and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Westmead (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Westmead (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cumberland (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Westmead (part), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Indian
2021 count
5,905
% of total
17.8%
Change from 2016
-
5,905
17.8%
-
Chinese
2021 count
1,268
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-
1,268
3.8%
-
English
2021 count
1,168
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-16.5pp
1,168
3.5%
-16.5pp
Australian
2021 count
1,021
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-9.5pp
1,021
3.1%
-9.5pp
Tamil, nfd
2021 count
906
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-
906
2.7%
-
Nepalese
2021 count
657
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-
657
2.0%
-
Filipino
2021 count
479
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
479
1.4%
-
Telugu
2021 count
426
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
426
1.3%
-
Southern Asian, nfd
2021 count
374
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
374
1.1%
-
Lebanese
2021 count
349
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
349
1.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,149
-16.5pp
Australian
+1,009
-9.5pp
Irish
+304
-8.6pp
Scottish
+202
-15.1pp
German
+91
-5.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Westmead (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 | |
| Indian | 5,905 | 17.8% | 4.3% | - | - | 4.2% | - | - |
| Chinese | 1,268 | 3.8% | 6.3% | - | - | 6.3% | - | - |
| English | 1,168 | 3.5% | 4.6% | 19 | 20.0% | 5.1% | +1,149 | -16.5pp |
| Australian | 1,021 | 3.1% | 5.3% | 12 | 12.6% | 6.0% | +1,009 | -9.5pp |
| Tamil, nfd | 906 | 2.7% | 1.1% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Nepalese | 657 | 2.0% | 2.2% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| Filipino | 479 | 1.4% | 1.2% | - | - | 1.2% | - | - |
| Telugu | 426 | 1.3% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Southern Asian, nfd | 374 | 1.1% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Lebanese | 349 | 1.1% | 5.9% | - | - | 6.6% | - | - |
| Total | 33,140 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 95 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +33,045 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).