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 Cabramatta West were Vietnamese, Chinese and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cabramatta West - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cabramatta West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cabramatta West, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Vietnamese
2021 count
2,896
% of total
37.0%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
2,896
37.0%
-1.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,441
% of total
18.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,441
18.4%
-0.5pp
Australian
2021 count
657
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
657
8.4%
+1.1pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
599
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
599
7.7%
-0.2pp
English
2021 count
481
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
481
6.1%
-2.2pp
Italian
2021 count
233
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
233
3.0%
-0.8pp
Samoan
2021 count
209
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
209
2.7%
+0.2pp
Serbian
2021 count
169
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
169
2.2%
-0.2pp
Iraqi
2021 count
152
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
152
1.9%
+0.8pp
Lao
2021 count
118
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
118
1.5%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+124
-1.4pp
Chinese
+79
-0.5pp
Australian
+129
+1.1pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
+25
-0.2pp
English
-117
-2.2pp
Italian
-45
-0.8pp
Samoan
+27
+0.2pp
Serbian
-6
-0.2pp
Iraqi
+76
+0.8pp
Lao
+7
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cabramatta West. 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 | 2,896 | 37.0% | 19.5% | 2,772 | 38.4% | 19.9% | +124 | -1.4pp |
| Chinese | 1,441 | 18.4% | 13.1% | 1,362 | 18.9% | 13.6% | +79 | -0.5pp |
| Australian | 657 | 8.4% | 8.8% | 528 | 7.3% | 9.2% | +129 | +1.1pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 599 | 7.7% | 4.3% | 574 | 7.9% | 4.3% | +25 | -0.2pp |
| English | 481 | 6.1% | 7.2% | 598 | 8.3% | 8.2% | -117 | -2.2pp |
| Italian | 233 | 3.0% | 5.1% | 278 | 3.8% | 6.0% | -45 | -0.8pp |
| Samoan | 209 | 2.7% | 1.1% | 182 | 2.5% | 1.3% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Serbian | 169 | 2.2% | 1.9% | 175 | 2.4% | 2.0% | -6 | -0.2pp |
| Iraqi | 152 | 1.9% | 5.3% | 76 | 1.1% | 3.9% | +76 | +0.8pp |
| Lao | 118 | 1.5% | 1.2% | 111 | 1.5% | 1.2% | +7 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).