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 Wetherill Park were Australian, Assyrian and Italian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wetherill Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wetherill Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wetherill Park, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Australian
2021 count
708
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
708
11.0%
-1.9pp
Assyrian
2021 count
686
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
686
10.7%
+1.6pp
Italian
2021 count
605
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
605
9.4%
-2.2pp
English
2021 count
558
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
558
8.7%
-2.0pp
Iraqi
2021 count
477
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
477
7.4%
+2.6pp
Chaldean
2021 count
410
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
410
6.4%
+2.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
360
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
360
5.6%
-0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
285
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
285
4.4%
+0.2pp
Croatian
2021 count
213
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
213
3.3%
-0.6pp
Lebanese
2021 count
193
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
193
3.0%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-80
-1.9pp
Assyrian
+127
+1.6pp
Italian
-104
-2.2pp
English
-100
-2.0pp
Iraqi
+180
+2.6pp
Chaldean
+154
+2.2pp
Chinese
+12
-0.1pp
Vietnamese
+30
+0.2pp
Croatian
-23
-0.6pp
Lebanese
+44
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wetherill Park. 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 | 708 | 11.0% | 8.8% | 788 | 12.9% | 9.2% | -80 | -1.9pp |
| Assyrian | 686 | 10.7% | 8.2% | 559 | 9.1% | 6.8% | +127 | +1.6pp |
| Italian | 605 | 9.4% | 5.1% | 709 | 11.6% | 6.0% | -104 | -2.2pp |
| English | 558 | 8.7% | 7.2% | 658 | 10.7% | 8.2% | -100 | -2.0pp |
| Iraqi | 477 | 7.4% | 5.3% | 297 | 4.8% | 3.9% | +180 | +2.6pp |
| Chaldean | 410 | 6.4% | 3.8% | 256 | 4.2% | 3.2% | +154 | +2.2pp |
| Chinese | 360 | 5.6% | 13.1% | 348 | 5.7% | 13.6% | +12 | -0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 285 | 4.4% | 19.5% | 255 | 4.2% | 19.9% | +30 | +0.2pp |
| Croatian | 213 | 3.3% | 1.7% | 236 | 3.9% | 1.8% | -23 | -0.6pp |
| Lebanese | 193 | 3.0% | 2.8% | 149 | 2.4% | 3.1% | +44 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).