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 Wakeley were Vietnamese, Assyrian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wakeley - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wakeley in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wakeley, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Vietnamese
2021 count
860
% of total
17.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
860
17.6%
-1.0pp
Assyrian
2021 count
794
% of total
16.2%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
794
16.2%
+3.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
643
% of total
13.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
643
13.1%
-0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
400
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
400
8.2%
+0.7pp
Iraqi
2021 count
284
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
284
5.8%
+1.4pp
English
2021 count
267
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
267
5.5%
+0.1pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
2021 count
263
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
263
5.4%
+1.3pp
Chaldean
2021 count
198
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
198
4.0%
-0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
192
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
192
3.9%
-0.7pp
Croatian
2021 count
167
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
167
3.4%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
-22
-1.0pp
Assyrian
+170
+3.1pp
Chinese
+11
-0.2pp
Australian
+43
+0.7pp
Iraqi
+76
+1.4pp
English
+9
+0.1pp
Khmer (Cambodian)
+69
+1.3pp
Chaldean
-28
-0.8pp
Italian
-28
-0.7pp
Croatian
-8
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wakeley. 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 | 860 | 17.6% | 19.5% | 882 | 18.6% | 19.9% | -22 | -1.0pp |
| Assyrian | 794 | 16.2% | 8.2% | 624 | 13.1% | 6.8% | +170 | +3.1pp |
| Chinese | 643 | 13.1% | 13.1% | 632 | 13.3% | 13.6% | +11 | -0.2pp |
| Australian | 400 | 8.2% | 8.8% | 357 | 7.5% | 9.2% | +43 | +0.7pp |
| Iraqi | 284 | 5.8% | 5.3% | 208 | 4.4% | 3.9% | +76 | +1.4pp |
| English | 267 | 5.5% | 7.2% | 258 | 5.4% | 8.2% | +9 | +0.1pp |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 263 | 5.4% | 4.3% | 194 | 4.1% | 4.3% | +69 | +1.3pp |
| Chaldean | 198 | 4.0% | 3.8% | 226 | 4.8% | 3.2% | -28 | -0.8pp |
| Italian | 192 | 3.9% | 5.1% | 220 | 4.6% | 6.0% | -28 | -0.7pp |
| Croatian | 167 | 3.4% | 1.7% | 175 | 3.7% | 1.8% | -8 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).