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 Hurstville were Chinese, Nepalese and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Hurstville - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Hurstville in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Georges River (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hurstville, with comparison markers for Georges River (A).
Chinese
2021 count
14,691
% of total
47.1%
Change from 2016
-7.9pp
14,691
47.1%
-7.9pp
Nepalese
2021 count
4,871
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
+8.2pp
4,871
15.6%
+8.2pp
English
2021 count
2,300
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,300
7.4%
0.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,771
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,771
5.7%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
914
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
914
2.9%
-0.3pp
Lebanese
2021 count
687
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
687
2.2%
-0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
679
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
679
2.2%
+0.4pp
Macedonian
2021 count
631
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
631
2.0%
-0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
569
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
569
1.8%
-0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
519
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
519
1.7%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
-1,714
-7.9pp
Nepalese
+2,678
+8.2pp
English
+96
0.0pp
Australian
+69
0.0pp
Greek
-54
-0.3pp
Lebanese
-40
-0.2pp
Filipino
+145
+0.4pp
Macedonian
-24
-0.2pp
Indian
-84
-0.4pp
Italian
+12
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Hurstville. 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 | 14,691 | 47.1% | 26.1% | 16,405 | 55.0% | 27.8% | -1,714 | -7.9pp |
| Nepalese | 4,871 | 15.6% | 5.9% | 2,193 | 7.4% | 3.5% | +2,678 | +8.2pp |
| English | 2,300 | 7.4% | 15.2% | 2,204 | 7.4% | 16.3% | +96 | 0.0pp |
| Australian | 1,771 | 5.7% | 14.7% | 1,702 | 5.7% | 15.5% | +69 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 914 | 2.9% | 7.8% | 968 | 3.2% | 7.4% | -54 | -0.3pp |
| Lebanese | 687 | 2.2% | 3.7% | 727 | 2.4% | 3.4% | -40 | -0.2pp |
| Filipino | 679 | 2.2% | 2.4% | 534 | 1.8% | 2.0% | +145 | +0.4pp |
| Macedonian | 631 | 2.0% | 3.0% | 655 | 2.2% | 2.9% | -24 | -0.2pp |
| Indian | 569 | 1.8% | 2.1% | 653 | 2.2% | 2.3% | -84 | -0.4pp |
| Italian | 519 | 1.7% | 4.3% | 507 | 1.7% | 4.1% | +12 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).