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 West were Vietnamese, Assyrian and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Fairfield West - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Fairfield West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield West, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Vietnamese
2021 count
2,298
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-
2,298
8.9%
-
Assyrian
2021 count
1,542
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-
1,542
5.9%
-
Australian
2021 count
1,231
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-20.8pp
1,231
4.7%
-20.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,147
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-
1,147
4.4%
-
English
2021 count
1,089
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-14.7pp
1,089
4.2%
-14.7pp
Iraqi
2021 count
1,030
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-
1,030
4.0%
-
Chaldean
2021 count
721
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-
721
2.8%
-
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
510
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-
510
2.0%
-
Italian
2021 count
366
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
366
1.4%
+0.5pp
Lebanese
2021 count
278
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
278
1.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+1,038
-20.8pp
English
+946
-14.7pp
Italian
+359
+0.5pp
Irish
+176
-3.9pp
Scottish
+136
-3.0pp
German
+120
-2.3pp
Filipino
+126
-0.8pp
Thai
+32
-0.6pp
Dutch
+26
-0.4pp
New Zealander
+24
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Fairfield West. 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 | 2,298 | 8.9% | 9.7% | - | - | 10.0% | - | - |
| Assyrian | 1,542 | 5.9% | 4.1% | - | - | 3.4% | - | - |
| Australian | 1,231 | 4.7% | 4.4% | 193 | 25.5% | 4.6% | +1,038 | -20.8pp |
| Chinese | 1,147 | 4.4% | 6.5% | - | - | 6.8% | - | - |
| English | 1,089 | 4.2% | 3.6% | 143 | 18.9% | 4.1% | +946 | -14.7pp |
| Iraqi | 1,030 | 4.0% | 2.6% | - | - | 2.0% | - | - |
| Chaldean | 721 | 2.8% | 1.9% | - | - | 1.6% | - | - |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 510 | 2.0% | 2.1% | - | - | 2.1% | - | - |
| Italian | 366 | 1.4% | 2.6% | 7 | 0.9% | 3.0% | +359 | +0.5pp |
| Lebanese | 278 | 1.1% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.5% | - | - |
| Total | 25,939 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 758 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +25,181 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).