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 Smithfield (NSW) (part) were Australian, Assyrian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Smithfield (NSW) (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Smithfield (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 Smithfield (NSW) (part), with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,668
% of total
12.7%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,668
12.7%
-1.1pp
Assyrian
2021 count
1,494
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
1,494
11.4%
+2.8pp
English
2021 count
1,313
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
1,313
10.0%
-1.4pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
1,217
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,217
9.2%
+0.6pp
Iraqi
2021 count
1,188
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
1,188
9.0%
+3.2pp
Italian
2021 count
986
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
986
7.5%
-2.0pp
Chaldean
2021 count
707
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
707
5.4%
+0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
692
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
692
5.3%
+0.4pp
Lebanese
2021 count
591
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
591
4.5%
-0.5pp
Arab, nfd
2021 count
367
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
367
2.8%
+1.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+15
-1.1pp
Assyrian
+468
+2.8pp
English
-49
-1.4pp
Vietnamese
+187
+0.6pp
Iraqi
+494
+3.2pp
Italian
-153
-2.0pp
Chaldean
+106
+0.4pp
Chinese
+100
+0.4pp
Lebanese
-9
-0.5pp
Arab, nfd
+192
+1.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Smithfield (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 | |
| Australian | 1,668 | 12.7% | 8.8% | 1,653 | 13.8% | 9.2% | +15 | -1.1pp |
| Assyrian | 1,494 | 11.4% | 8.2% | 1,026 | 8.6% | 6.8% | +468 | +2.8pp |
| English | 1,313 | 10.0% | 7.2% | 1,362 | 11.4% | 8.2% | -49 | -1.4pp |
| Vietnamese | 1,217 | 9.2% | 19.5% | 1,030 | 8.6% | 19.9% | +187 | +0.6pp |
| Iraqi | 1,188 | 9.0% | 5.3% | 694 | 5.8% | 3.9% | +494 | +3.2pp |
| Italian | 986 | 7.5% | 5.1% | 1,139 | 9.5% | 6.0% | -153 | -2.0pp |
| Chaldean | 707 | 5.4% | 3.8% | 601 | 5.0% | 3.2% | +106 | +0.4pp |
| Chinese | 692 | 5.3% | 13.1% | 592 | 4.9% | 13.6% | +100 | +0.4pp |
| Lebanese | 591 | 4.5% | 2.8% | 600 | 5.0% | 3.1% | -9 | -0.5pp |
| Arab, nfd | 367 | 2.8% | 1.6% | 175 | 1.5% | 1.1% | +192 | +1.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).