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 Hunters Hill (A) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Hunters Hill (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Hunters Hill (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hunters Hill (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
English
2021 count
3,979
% of total
29.3%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
3,979
29.3%
-2.1pp
Australian
2021 count
3,546
% of total
26.2%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
3,546
26.2%
-1.7pp
Irish
2021 count
1,903
% of total
14.0%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
1,903
14.0%
-1.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,328
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
1,328
9.8%
+1.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,176
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,176
8.7%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
1,113
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,113
8.2%
+0.7pp
Greek
2021 count
538
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
538
4.0%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
388
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
388
2.9%
-0.3pp
Lebanese
2021 count
359
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
359
2.6%
+0.5pp
Indian
2021 count
267
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
267
2.0%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-422
-2.1pp
Australian
-362
-1.7pp
Irish
-245
-1.3pp
Chinese
+140
+1.3pp
Scottish
-114
-0.5pp
Italian
+66
+0.7pp
Greek
+76
+0.7pp
German
-66
-0.3pp
Lebanese
+64
+0.5pp
Indian
+36
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Hunters Hill (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 | |
| English | 3,979 | 29.3% | 23.8% | 4,401 | 31.4% | 25.3% | -422 | -2.1pp |
| Australian | 3,546 | 26.2% | 22.3% | 3,908 | 27.9% | 23.5% | -362 | -1.7pp |
| Irish | 1,903 | 14.0% | 7.7% | 2,148 | 15.3% | 8.6% | -245 | -1.3pp |
| Chinese | 1,328 | 9.8% | 10.6% | 1,188 | 8.5% | 10.1% | +140 | +1.3pp |
| Scottish | 1,176 | 8.7% | 6.0% | 1,290 | 9.2% | 6.4% | -114 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 1,113 | 8.2% | 4.3% | 1,047 | 7.5% | 4.2% | +66 | +0.7pp |
| Greek | 538 | 4.0% | 2.4% | 462 | 3.3% | 2.4% | +76 | +0.7pp |
| German | 388 | 2.9% | 2.3% | 454 | 3.2% | 2.5% | -66 | -0.3pp |
| Lebanese | 359 | 2.6% | 3.3% | 295 | 2.1% | 3.3% | +64 | +0.5pp |
| Indian | 267 | 2.0% | 4.5% | 231 | 1.7% | 4.0% | +36 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).