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 Heights were Assyrian, Iraqi and Vietnamese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Fairfield Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Fairfield Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield Heights, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Assyrian
2021 count
1,631
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
-
1,631
9.9%
-
Iraqi
2021 count
1,007
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-
1,007
6.1%
-
Vietnamese
2021 count
911
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+5.5pp
911
5.5%
+5.5pp
Chaldean
2021 count
753
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-
753
4.6%
-
Chinese
2021 count
728
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
728
4.4%
+3.4pp
Australian
2021 count
549
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-11.3pp
549
3.3%
-11.3pp
English
2021 count
424
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-21.0pp
424
2.6%
-21.0pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
276
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-
276
1.7%
-
Italian
2021 count
266
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
266
1.6%
-0.1pp
Arab, nfd
2021 count
216
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
216
1.3%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+906
+5.5pp
Chinese
+616
+3.4pp
Australian
-1,159
-11.3pp
English
-2,332
-21.0pp
Italian
+68
-0.1pp
Serbian
+166
+1.0pp
Lebanese
+152
+0.9pp
Filipino
+90
+0.5pp
Croatian
+60
+0.3pp
Inadequately described
+66
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Fairfield 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 | |
| Assyrian | 1,631 | 9.9% | 4.1% | - | - | 3.4% | - | - |
| Iraqi | 1,007 | 6.1% | 2.6% | - | - | 2.0% | - | - |
| Vietnamese | 911 | 5.5% | 9.7% | 5 | 0.0% | 10.0% | +906 | +5.5pp |
| Chaldean | 753 | 4.6% | 1.9% | - | - | 1.6% | - | - |
| Chinese | 728 | 4.4% | 6.5% | 112 | 1.0% | 6.8% | +616 | +3.4pp |
| Australian | 549 | 3.3% | 4.4% | 1,708 | 14.6% | 4.6% | -1,159 | -11.3pp |
| English | 424 | 2.6% | 3.6% | 2,756 | 23.6% | 4.1% | -2,332 | -21.0pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 276 | 1.7% | 2.1% | - | - | 2.1% | - | - |
| Italian | 266 | 1.6% | 2.6% | 198 | 1.7% | 3.0% | +68 | -0.1pp |
| Arab, nfd | 216 | 1.3% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Total | 16,529 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,667 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,862 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).