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 Canley Heights were Vietnamese, Chinese and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Canley Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Canley Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Canley Heights, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Vietnamese
2021 count
4,643
% of total
37.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
4,643
37.7%
+0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
2,606
% of total
21.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
2,606
21.2%
-1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
920
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
920
7.5%
-0.8pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
896
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
896
7.3%
0.0pp
English
2021 count
859
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
859
7.0%
-1.8pp
Assyrian
2021 count
369
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
369
3.0%
+1.4pp
Iraqi
2021 count
231
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
231
1.9%
+0.3pp
Samoan
2021 count
181
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
181
1.5%
-0.5pp
Lao
2021 count
162
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
162
1.3%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
155
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
155
1.3%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+572
+0.6pp
Chinese
+167
-1.0pp
Australian
+10
-0.8pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
+96
0.0pp
English
-107
-1.8pp
Assyrian
+188
+1.4pp
Iraqi
+53
+0.3pp
Samoan
-41
-0.5pp
Lao
+23
0.0pp
Italian
-47
-0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Canley 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 | 4,643 | 37.7% | 19.5% | 4,071 | 37.1% | 19.9% | +572 | +0.6pp |
| Chinese | 2,606 | 21.2% | 13.1% | 2,439 | 22.2% | 13.6% | +167 | -1.0pp |
| Australian | 920 | 7.5% | 8.8% | 910 | 8.3% | 9.2% | +10 | -0.8pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 896 | 7.3% | 4.3% | 800 | 7.3% | 4.3% | +96 | 0.0pp |
| English | 859 | 7.0% | 7.2% | 966 | 8.8% | 8.2% | -107 | -1.8pp |
| Assyrian | 369 | 3.0% | 8.2% | 181 | 1.6% | 6.8% | +188 | +1.4pp |
| Iraqi | 231 | 1.9% | 5.3% | 178 | 1.6% | 3.9% | +53 | +0.3pp |
| Samoan | 181 | 1.5% | 1.1% | 222 | 2.0% | 1.3% | -41 | -0.5pp |
| Lao | 162 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 139 | 1.3% | 1.2% | +23 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 155 | 1.3% | 5.1% | 202 | 1.8% | 6.0% | -47 | -0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).