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 Bonnyrigg Heights were Vietnamese, Chinese and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bonnyrigg Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bonnyrigg Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bonnyrigg Heights, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Vietnamese
2021 count
1,269
% of total
17.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,269
17.2%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
945
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
945
12.8%
-1.1pp
Australian
2021 count
602
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
602
8.2%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
540
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
540
7.3%
-1.2pp
Serbian
2021 count
485
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
485
6.6%
-0.4pp
English
2021 count
435
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
435
5.9%
-0.2pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
423
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
423
5.7%
0.0pp
Assyrian
2021 count
419
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
419
5.7%
+1.2pp
Iraqi
2021 count
335
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
335
4.5%
+2.0pp
Chaldean
2021 count
284
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
284
3.9%
+0.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+16
0.0pp
Chinese
-69
-1.1pp
Australian
+11
+0.1pp
Italian
-78
-1.2pp
Serbian
-24
-0.4pp
English
-14
-0.2pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
+9
0.0pp
Assyrian
+93
+1.2pp
Iraqi
+153
+2.0pp
Chaldean
+50
+0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bonnyrigg Heights. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Vietnamese | 1,269 | 17.2% | 19.5% | 1,253 | 17.2% | 19.9% | +16 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 945 | 12.8% | 13.1% | 1,014 | 13.9% | 13.6% | -69 | -1.1pp |
| Australian | 602 | 8.2% | 8.8% | 591 | 8.1% | 9.2% | +11 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 540 | 7.3% | 5.1% | 618 | 8.5% | 6.0% | -78 | -1.2pp |
| Serbian | 485 | 6.6% | 1.9% | 509 | 7.0% | 2.0% | -24 | -0.4pp |
| English | 435 | 5.9% | 7.2% | 449 | 6.1% | 8.2% | -14 | -0.2pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 423 | 5.7% | 4.3% | 414 | 5.7% | 4.3% | +9 | 0.0pp |
| Assyrian | 419 | 5.7% | 8.2% | 326 | 4.5% | 6.8% | +93 | +1.2pp |
| Iraqi | 335 | 4.5% | 5.3% | 182 | 2.5% | 3.9% | +153 | +2.0pp |
| Chaldean | 284 | 3.9% | 3.8% | 234 | 3.2% | 3.2% | +50 | +0.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).