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 Carlton (NSW) (part) were Chinese, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Carlton (NSW) (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Carlton (NSW) (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Georges River (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Carlton (NSW) (part), with comparison markers for Georges River (A).
Chinese
2021 count
2,328
% of total
21.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,328
21.9%
-0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,330
% of total
12.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,330
12.5%
-0.3pp
English
2021 count
1,303
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,303
12.3%
-0.8pp
Greek
2021 count
901
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
901
8.5%
+0.3pp
Nepalese
2021 count
637
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
637
6.0%
+1.2pp
Macedonian
2021 count
611
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
611
5.7%
-0.4pp
Lebanese
2021 count
463
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
463
4.4%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
425
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
425
4.0%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
407
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
407
3.8%
-0.6pp
Filipino
2021 count
375
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
375
3.5%
+1.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
-65
-0.6pp
Australian
-31
-0.3pp
English
-86
-0.8pp
Greek
+33
+0.3pp
Nepalese
+123
+1.2pp
Macedonian
-42
-0.4pp
Lebanese
-52
-0.5pp
Italian
+20
+0.2pp
Irish
-66
-0.6pp
Filipino
+108
+1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Carlton (NSW) (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Georges River (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Georges River (A)% | Count | % | Georges River (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Chinese | 2,328 | 21.9% | 26.1% | 2,393 | 22.5% | 27.8% | -65 | -0.6pp |
| Australian | 1,330 | 12.5% | 14.7% | 1,361 | 12.8% | 15.5% | -31 | -0.3pp |
| English | 1,303 | 12.3% | 15.2% | 1,389 | 13.1% | 16.3% | -86 | -0.8pp |
| Greek | 901 | 8.5% | 7.8% | 868 | 8.2% | 7.4% | +33 | +0.3pp |
| Nepalese | 637 | 6.0% | 5.9% | 514 | 4.8% | 3.5% | +123 | +1.2pp |
| Macedonian | 611 | 5.7% | 3.0% | 653 | 6.1% | 2.9% | -42 | -0.4pp |
| Lebanese | 463 | 4.4% | 3.7% | 515 | 4.9% | 3.4% | -52 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 425 | 4.0% | 4.3% | 405 | 3.8% | 4.1% | +20 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 407 | 3.8% | 5.1% | 473 | 4.4% | 5.9% | -66 | -0.6pp |
| Filipino | 375 | 3.5% | 2.4% | 267 | 2.5% | 2.0% | +108 | +1.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).