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 Carramar (NSW) were Vietnamese, Chinese and Australian.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Carramar (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Carramar (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Carramar (NSW), with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).

Carramar (NSW)
Fairfield (C)

Vietnamese

2021 count

741

% of total

21.3%

Change from 2016

+3.8pp

Chinese

2021 count

373

% of total

10.7%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Australian

2021 count

364

% of total

10.5%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

English

2021 count

272

% of total

7.8%

Change from 2016

-1.8pp

Lebanese

2021 count

215

% of total

6.2%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Filipino

2021 count

94

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Iraqi

2021 count

89

% of total

2.6%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Italian

2021 count

72

% of total

2.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Irish

2021 count

62

% of total

1.8%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Arab, nfd

2021 count

58

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Data table

Ancestry for Carramar (NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).

Ancestry for Carramar (NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Ancestry for Carramar (NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Fairfield (C)%Count%Fairfield (C)%Countpp
Vietnamese74121.3%19.5%62317.5%19.9%+118+3.8pp
Chinese37310.7%13.1%36910.4%13.6%+4+0.3pp
Australian36410.5%8.8%3399.5%9.2%+25+1.0pp
English2727.8%7.2%3409.6%8.2%-68-1.8pp
Lebanese2156.2%2.8%2156.1%3.1%0+0.1pp
Filipino942.7%1.6%932.6%1.6%+1+0.1pp
Iraqi892.6%5.3%992.8%3.9%-10-0.2pp
Italian722.1%5.1%792.2%6.0%-7-0.1pp
Irish621.8%1.4%872.5%1.8%-25-0.7pp
Arab, nfd581.7%1.6%491.4%1.1%+9+0.3pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).