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 (NSW) (part) were Assyrian, Vietnamese and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Fairfield (NSW) (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Fairfield (NSW) (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield (NSW) (part), with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Assyrian
2021 count
2,879
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
2,879
15.5%
+1.8pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
2,081
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
2,081
11.2%
+0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,903
% of total
10.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,903
10.2%
0.0pp
Iraqi
2021 count
1,884
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,884
10.1%
+1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,281
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,281
6.9%
-0.1pp
English
2021 count
1,087
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
1,087
5.8%
-0.7pp
Chaldean
2021 count
1,082
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,082
5.8%
-0.9pp
Arab, nfd
2021 count
582
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
582
3.1%
+0.8pp
Syrian
2021 count
525
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
525
2.8%
+1.6pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
497
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
497
2.7%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Assyrian
+395
+1.8pp
Vietnamese
+122
+0.4pp
Chinese
+61
0.0pp
Iraqi
+231
+1.0pp
Australian
+13
-0.1pp
English
-88
-0.7pp
Chaldean
-134
-0.9pp
Arab, nfd
+158
+0.8pp
Syrian
+309
+1.6pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
+20
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Fairfield (NSW) (part). 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 | 2,879 | 15.5% | 8.2% | 2,484 | 13.7% | 6.8% | +395 | +1.8pp |
| Vietnamese | 2,081 | 11.2% | 19.5% | 1,959 | 10.8% | 19.9% | +122 | +0.4pp |
| Chinese | 1,903 | 10.2% | 13.1% | 1,842 | 10.2% | 13.6% | +61 | 0.0pp |
| Iraqi | 1,884 | 10.1% | 5.3% | 1,653 | 9.1% | 3.9% | +231 | +1.0pp |
| Australian | 1,281 | 6.9% | 8.8% | 1,268 | 7.0% | 9.2% | +13 | -0.1pp |
| English | 1,087 | 5.8% | 7.2% | 1,175 | 6.5% | 8.2% | -88 | -0.7pp |
| Chaldean | 1,082 | 5.8% | 3.8% | 1,216 | 6.7% | 3.2% | -134 | -0.9pp |
| Arab, nfd | 582 | 3.1% | 1.6% | 424 | 2.3% | 1.1% | +158 | +0.8pp |
| Syrian | 525 | 2.8% | 1.1% | 216 | 1.2% | 0.6% | +309 | +1.6pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 497 | 2.7% | 4.3% | 477 | 2.6% | 4.3% | +20 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).