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 Old Guildford were Lebanese, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Old Guildford - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Old Guildford in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Old Guildford, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Lebanese
2021 count
968
% of total
33.9%
Change from 2016
-7.6pp
968
33.9%
-7.6pp
Australian
2021 count
350
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
350
12.3%
-1.7pp
English
2021 count
205
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
205
7.2%
-0.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
174
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
174
6.1%
+0.4pp
Arab, nfd
2021 count
122
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
122
4.3%
+1.4pp
Syrian
2021 count
82
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
82
2.9%
-0.5pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
72
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
72
2.5%
-0.1pp
Iraqi
2021 count
71
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
71
2.5%
+0.3pp
Hazara
2021 count
57
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
57
2.0%
+1.5pp
Afghan
2021 count
55
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
55
1.9%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lebanese
-136
-7.6pp
Australian
-23
-1.7pp
English
-8
-0.8pp
Chinese
+21
+0.4pp
Arab, nfd
+44
+1.4pp
Syrian
-8
-0.5pp
Vietnamese
+2
-0.1pp
Iraqi
+12
+0.3pp
Hazara
+43
+1.5pp
Afghan
+2
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Old Guildford. 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 | |
| Lebanese | 968 | 33.9% | 2.8% | 1,104 | 41.5% | 3.1% | -136 | -7.6pp |
| Australian | 350 | 12.3% | 8.8% | 373 | 14.0% | 9.2% | -23 | -1.7pp |
| English | 205 | 7.2% | 7.2% | 213 | 8.0% | 8.2% | -8 | -0.8pp |
| Chinese | 174 | 6.1% | 13.1% | 153 | 5.7% | 13.6% | +21 | +0.4pp |
| Arab, nfd | 122 | 4.3% | 1.6% | 78 | 2.9% | 1.1% | +44 | +1.4pp |
| Syrian | 82 | 2.9% | 1.1% | 90 | 3.4% | 0.6% | -8 | -0.5pp |
| Vietnamese | 72 | 2.5% | 19.5% | 70 | 2.6% | 19.9% | +2 | -0.1pp |
| Iraqi | 71 | 2.5% | 5.3% | 59 | 2.2% | 3.9% | +12 | +0.3pp |
| Hazara | 57 | 2.0% | 0.2% | 14 | 0.5% | 0.0% | +43 | +1.5pp |
| Afghan | 55 | 1.9% | 0.2% | 53 | 2.0% | 0.2% | +2 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).