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 Fairfield (C) were Vietnamese, Chinese and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Fairfield (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Fairfield (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Vietnamese
2021 count
40,624
% of total
9.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
40,624
9.7%
-0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
27,226
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
27,226
6.5%
-0.3pp
Australian
2021 count
18,410
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
18,410
4.4%
-0.2pp
Assyrian
2021 count
17,103
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
17,103
4.1%
+0.7pp
English
2021 count
14,950
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
14,950
3.6%
-0.5pp
Iraqi
2021 count
11,043
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
11,043
2.6%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
10,644
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
10,644
2.6%
-0.4pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
8,914
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
8,914
2.1%
0.0pp
Chaldean
2021 count
7,979
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
7,979
1.9%
+0.3pp
Lebanese
2021 count
5,847
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
5,847
1.4%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+1,046
-0.3pp
Chinese
+283
-0.3pp
Australian
+82
-0.2pp
Assyrian
+3,670
+0.7pp
English
-1,304
-0.5pp
Iraqi
+3,222
+0.6pp
Italian
-1,269
-0.4pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
+407
0.0pp
Chaldean
+1,547
+0.3pp
Lebanese
-256
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Fairfield (C). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Vietnamese | 40,624 | 9.7% | 1.1% | 39,578 | 10.0% | 1.1% | +1,046 | -0.3pp |
| Chinese | 27,226 | 6.5% | 5.3% | 26,943 | 6.8% | 5.1% | +283 | -0.3pp |
| Australian | 18,410 | 4.4% | 11.2% | 18,328 | 4.6% | 11.8% | +82 | -0.2pp |
| Assyrian | 17,103 | 4.1% | 0.3% | 13,433 | 3.4% | 0.2% | +3,670 | +0.7pp |
| English | 14,950 | 3.6% | 11.9% | 16,254 | 4.1% | 12.6% | -1,304 | -0.5pp |
| Iraqi | 11,043 | 2.6% | 0.3% | 7,821 | 2.0% | 0.2% | +3,222 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 10,644 | 2.6% | 2.1% | 11,913 | 3.0% | 2.1% | -1,269 | -0.4pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 8,914 | 2.1% | 0.2% | 8,507 | 2.1% | 0.2% | +407 | 0.0pp |
| Chaldean | 7,979 | 1.9% | 0.1% | 6,432 | 1.6% | 0.1% | +1,547 | +0.3pp |
| Lebanese | 5,847 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 6,103 | 1.5% | 1.7% | -256 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 416,903 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 397,623 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +19,280 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).