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 Prairiewood were Assyrian, Italian and Vietnamese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Prairiewood - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Prairiewood in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Prairiewood, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Assyrian
2021 count
514
% of total
14.9%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
514
14.9%
+3.1pp
Italian
2021 count
356
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
356
10.3%
-1.5pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
311
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
311
9.0%
-1.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
309
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
309
8.9%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
304
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
304
8.8%
+0.1pp
English
2021 count
234
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
234
6.8%
-0.1pp
Iraqi
2021 count
208
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
208
6.0%
+2.3pp
Chaldean
2021 count
190
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
190
5.5%
+1.2pp
Croatian
2021 count
159
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
159
4.6%
+0.1pp
Lebanese
2021 count
100
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
100
2.9%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Assyrian
+131
+3.1pp
Italian
-26
-1.5pp
Vietnamese
-39
-1.8pp
Chinese
+18
-0.1pp
Australian
+22
+0.1pp
English
+9
-0.1pp
Iraqi
+88
+2.3pp
Chaldean
+50
+1.2pp
Croatian
+14
+0.1pp
Lebanese
+18
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Prairiewood. 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 | 514 | 14.9% | 8.2% | 383 | 11.8% | 6.8% | +131 | +3.1pp |
| Italian | 356 | 10.3% | 5.1% | 382 | 11.8% | 6.0% | -26 | -1.5pp |
| Vietnamese | 311 | 9.0% | 19.5% | 350 | 10.8% | 19.9% | -39 | -1.8pp |
| Chinese | 309 | 8.9% | 13.1% | 291 | 9.0% | 13.6% | +18 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 304 | 8.8% | 8.8% | 282 | 8.7% | 9.2% | +22 | +0.1pp |
| English | 234 | 6.8% | 7.2% | 225 | 6.9% | 8.2% | +9 | -0.1pp |
| Iraqi | 208 | 6.0% | 5.3% | 120 | 3.7% | 3.9% | +88 | +2.3pp |
| Chaldean | 190 | 5.5% | 3.8% | 140 | 4.3% | 3.2% | +50 | +1.2pp |
| Croatian | 159 | 4.6% | 1.7% | 145 | 4.5% | 1.8% | +14 | +0.1pp |
| Lebanese | 100 | 2.9% | 2.8% | 82 | 2.5% | 3.1% | +18 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).