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 Vale were Vietnamese, Chinese and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Canley Vale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Canley Vale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Canley Vale, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Vietnamese
2021 count
3,600
% of total
35.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
3,600
35.0%
+1.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
2,685
% of total
26.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,685
26.1%
-0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
721
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
721
7.0%
+0.8pp
English
2021 count
610
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
610
5.9%
-0.6pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
600
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
600
5.8%
0.0pp
Iraqi
2021 count
213
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
213
2.1%
+0.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
194
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
194
1.9%
+0.2pp
Assyrian
2021 count
185
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
185
1.8%
+0.7pp
Thai
2021 count
149
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
149
1.4%
0.0pp
Serbian
2021 count
123
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
123
1.2%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+131
+1.0pp
Chinese
-4
-0.2pp
Australian
+89
+0.8pp
English
-58
-0.6pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
+8
0.0pp
Iraqi
+41
+0.4pp
Filipino
+17
+0.2pp
Assyrian
+69
+0.7pp
Thai
+8
0.0pp
Serbian
-30
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Canley Vale. 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 | 3,600 | 35.0% | 19.5% | 3,469 | 34.0% | 19.9% | +131 | +1.0pp |
| Chinese | 2,685 | 26.1% | 13.1% | 2,689 | 26.3% | 13.6% | -4 | -0.2pp |
| Australian | 721 | 7.0% | 8.8% | 632 | 6.2% | 9.2% | +89 | +0.8pp |
| English | 610 | 5.9% | 7.2% | 668 | 6.5% | 8.2% | -58 | -0.6pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 600 | 5.8% | 4.3% | 592 | 5.8% | 4.3% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| Iraqi | 213 | 2.1% | 5.3% | 172 | 1.7% | 3.9% | +41 | +0.4pp |
| Filipino | 194 | 1.9% | 1.6% | 177 | 1.7% | 1.6% | +17 | +0.2pp |
| Assyrian | 185 | 1.8% | 8.2% | 116 | 1.1% | 6.8% | +69 | +0.7pp |
| Thai | 149 | 1.4% | 0.7% | 141 | 1.4% | 0.6% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| Serbian | 123 | 1.2% | 1.9% | 153 | 1.5% | 2.0% | -30 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).