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 Bossley Park were Assyrian, Italian and Chaldean.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bossley Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bossley Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bossley Park, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Assyrian
2021 count
2,054
% of total
13.3%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
2,054
13.3%
+1.7pp
Italian
2021 count
1,759
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
1,759
11.4%
-2.0pp
Chaldean
2021 count
1,522
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
1,522
9.8%
+2.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,450
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,450
9.4%
-1.1pp
Iraqi
2021 count
1,332
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
1,332
8.6%
+2.5pp
English
2021 count
1,208
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
1,208
7.8%
-1.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
881
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
881
5.7%
-0.7pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
695
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
695
4.5%
-0.5pp
Filipino
2021 count
429
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
429
2.8%
+0.2pp
Croatian
2021 count
369
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
369
2.4%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Assyrian
+362
+1.7pp
Italian
-202
-2.0pp
Chaldean
+382
+2.0pp
Australian
-80
-1.1pp
Iraqi
+441
+2.5pp
English
-137
-1.4pp
Chinese
-57
-0.7pp
Vietnamese
-31
-0.5pp
Filipino
+50
+0.2pp
Croatian
-9
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bossley Park. 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 | |
| Assyrian | 2,054 | 13.3% | 8.2% | 1,692 | 11.6% | 6.8% | +362 | +1.7pp |
| Italian | 1,759 | 11.4% | 5.1% | 1,961 | 13.4% | 6.0% | -202 | -2.0pp |
| Chaldean | 1,522 | 9.8% | 3.8% | 1,140 | 7.8% | 3.2% | +382 | +2.0pp |
| Australian | 1,450 | 9.4% | 8.8% | 1,530 | 10.5% | 9.2% | -80 | -1.1pp |
| Iraqi | 1,332 | 8.6% | 5.3% | 891 | 6.1% | 3.9% | +441 | +2.5pp |
| English | 1,208 | 7.8% | 7.2% | 1,345 | 9.2% | 8.2% | -137 | -1.4pp |
| Chinese | 881 | 5.7% | 13.1% | 938 | 6.4% | 13.6% | -57 | -0.7pp |
| Vietnamese | 695 | 4.5% | 19.5% | 726 | 5.0% | 19.9% | -31 | -0.5pp |
| Filipino | 429 | 2.8% | 1.6% | 379 | 2.6% | 1.6% | +50 | +0.2pp |
| Croatian | 369 | 2.4% | 1.7% | 378 | 2.6% | 1.8% | -9 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).