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 Peakhurst were Australian, English and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Peakhurst - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Peakhurst in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Georges River (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Peakhurst, with comparison markers for Georges River (A).
Australian
2021 count
2,611
% of total
21.6%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
2,611
21.6%
-2.7pp
English
2021 count
2,405
% of total
19.9%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
2,405
19.9%
-3.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,878
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
1,878
15.5%
+0.9pp
Greek
2021 count
894
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
894
7.4%
+1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
837
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
837
6.9%
-1.5pp
Lebanese
2021 count
651
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
651
5.4%
+1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
602
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
602
5.0%
-0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
526
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
526
4.4%
+0.3pp
Macedonian
2021 count
492
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
492
4.1%
+0.1pp
Egyptian
2021 count
255
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
255
2.1%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+70
-2.7pp
English
-1
-3.1pp
Chinese
+353
+0.9pp
Greek
+243
+1.2pp
Irish
-38
-1.5pp
Lebanese
+205
+1.1pp
Scottish
+16
-0.6pp
Italian
+94
+0.3pp
Macedonian
+77
+0.1pp
Egyptian
+20
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Peakhurst. 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 | |
| Australian | 2,611 | 21.6% | 14.7% | 2,541 | 24.3% | 15.5% | +70 | -2.7pp |
| English | 2,405 | 19.9% | 15.2% | 2,406 | 23.0% | 16.3% | -1 | -3.1pp |
| Chinese | 1,878 | 15.5% | 26.1% | 1,525 | 14.6% | 27.8% | +353 | +0.9pp |
| Greek | 894 | 7.4% | 7.8% | 651 | 6.2% | 7.4% | +243 | +1.2pp |
| Irish | 837 | 6.9% | 5.1% | 875 | 8.4% | 5.9% | -38 | -1.5pp |
| Lebanese | 651 | 5.4% | 3.7% | 446 | 4.3% | 3.4% | +205 | +1.1pp |
| Scottish | 602 | 5.0% | 3.8% | 586 | 5.6% | 4.1% | +16 | -0.6pp |
| Italian | 526 | 4.4% | 4.3% | 432 | 4.1% | 4.1% | +94 | +0.3pp |
| Macedonian | 492 | 4.1% | 3.0% | 415 | 4.0% | 2.9% | +77 | +0.1pp |
| Egyptian | 255 | 2.1% | 1.2% | 235 | 2.2% | 1.2% | +20 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).