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 were Vietnamese, Chinese and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bonnyrigg - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bonnyrigg in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bonnyrigg, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Vietnamese
2021 count
2,598
% of total
13.3%
Change from 2016
-
2,598
13.3%
-
Chinese
2021 count
1,346
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
1,346
6.9%
+5.7pp
Australian
2021 count
884
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-14.5pp
884
4.5%
-14.5pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
724
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-
724
3.7%
-
English
2021 count
668
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-17.3pp
668
3.4%
-17.3pp
Assyrian
2021 count
490
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
490
2.5%
+2.4pp
Iraqi
2021 count
353
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
353
1.8%
-
Lao
2021 count
342
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-
342
1.7%
-
Italian
2021 count
297
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
297
1.5%
-0.1pp
Serbian
2021 count
267
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
267
1.4%
+1.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+1,293
+5.7pp
Australian
+25
-14.5pp
English
-266
-17.3pp
Assyrian
+485
+2.4pp
Italian
+225
-0.1pp
Serbian
+262
+1.3pp
Lebanese
+170
+0.7pp
Filipino
+138
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+134
+0.6pp
Samoan
+132
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bonnyrigg. 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 | 2,598 | 13.3% | 9.7% | - | - | 10.0% | - | - |
| Chinese | 1,346 | 6.9% | 6.5% | 53 | 1.2% | 6.8% | +1,293 | +5.7pp |
| Australian | 884 | 4.5% | 4.4% | 859 | 19.0% | 4.6% | +25 | -14.5pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 724 | 3.7% | 2.1% | - | - | 2.1% | - | - |
| English | 668 | 3.4% | 3.6% | 934 | 20.7% | 4.1% | -266 | -17.3pp |
| Assyrian | 490 | 2.5% | 4.1% | 5 | 0.1% | 3.4% | +485 | +2.4pp |
| Iraqi | 353 | 1.8% | 2.6% | - | - | 2.0% | - | - |
| Lao | 342 | 1.7% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Italian | 297 | 1.5% | 2.6% | 72 | 1.6% | 3.0% | +225 | -0.1pp |
| Serbian | 267 | 1.4% | 0.9% | 5 | 0.1% | 1.0% | +262 | +1.3pp |
| Total | 19,574 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,515 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +15,059 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).