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 Georges River (A) were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Georges River (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Georges River (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Georges River (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Chinese
2021 count
39,753
% of total
26.1%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
39,753
26.1%
-1.7pp
English
2021 count
23,144
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
23,144
15.2%
-1.1pp
Australian
2021 count
22,310
% of total
14.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
22,310
14.7%
-0.8pp
Greek
2021 count
11,809
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
11,809
7.8%
+0.4pp
Nepalese
2021 count
8,971
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
8,971
5.9%
+2.4pp
Irish
2021 count
7,742
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
7,742
5.1%
-0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
6,487
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
6,487
4.3%
+0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
5,730
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
5,730
3.8%
-0.3pp
Lebanese
2021 count
5,569
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
5,569
3.7%
+0.3pp
Macedonian
2021 count
4,511
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
4,511
3.0%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
-1,117
-1.7pp
English
-801
-1.1pp
Australian
-383
-0.8pp
Greek
+955
+0.4pp
Nepalese
+3,802
+2.4pp
Irish
-961
-0.8pp
Italian
+511
+0.2pp
Scottish
-329
-0.3pp
Lebanese
+579
+0.3pp
Macedonian
+310
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Georges River (A). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Chinese | 39,753 | 26.1% | 10.6% | 40,870 | 27.8% | 10.1% | -1,117 | -1.7pp |
| English | 23,144 | 15.2% | 23.8% | 23,945 | 16.3% | 25.3% | -801 | -1.1pp |
| Australian | 22,310 | 14.7% | 22.3% | 22,693 | 15.5% | 23.5% | -383 | -0.8pp |
| Greek | 11,809 | 7.8% | 2.4% | 10,854 | 7.4% | 2.4% | +955 | +0.4pp |
| Nepalese | 8,971 | 5.9% | 1.3% | 5,169 | 3.5% | 0.7% | +3,802 | +2.4pp |
| Irish | 7,742 | 5.1% | 7.7% | 8,703 | 5.9% | 8.6% | -961 | -0.8pp |
| Italian | 6,487 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 5,976 | 4.1% | 4.2% | +511 | +0.2pp |
| Scottish | 5,730 | 3.8% | 6.0% | 6,059 | 4.1% | 6.4% | -329 | -0.3pp |
| Lebanese | 5,569 | 3.7% | 3.3% | 4,990 | 3.4% | 3.3% | +579 | +0.3pp |
| Macedonian | 4,511 | 3.0% | 0.6% | 4,201 | 2.9% | 0.5% | +310 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).