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 Annandale (NSW) (part) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Annandale (NSW) (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Annandale (NSW) (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Annandale (NSW) (part), with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
English
2021 count
3,372
% of total
35.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
3,372
35.5%
-0.5pp
Australian
2021 count
2,913
% of total
30.7%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
2,913
30.7%
+1.9pp
Irish
2021 count
1,415
% of total
14.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,415
14.9%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,140
% of total
12.0%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
1,140
12.0%
+1.2pp
Italian
2021 count
567
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
567
6.0%
+0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
521
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
521
5.5%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
381
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
381
4.0%
+0.1pp
Greek
2021 count
269
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
269
2.8%
+0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
145
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
145
1.5%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
141
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
141
1.5%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-27
-0.5pp
Australian
+187
+1.9pp
Irish
-52
-0.6pp
Scottish
+115
+1.2pp
Italian
+16
+0.2pp
Chinese
+31
+0.3pp
German
+11
+0.1pp
Greek
+16
+0.1pp
Indian
+32
+0.3pp
Dutch
+4
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Annandale (NSW) (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Inner West (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,372 | 35.5% | 29.9% | 3,399 | 36.0% | 28.9% | -27 | -0.5pp |
| Australian | 2,913 | 30.7% | 24.4% | 2,726 | 28.8% | 23.0% | +187 | +1.9pp |
| Irish | 1,415 | 14.9% | 13.7% | 1,467 | 15.5% | 13.5% | -52 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 1,140 | 12.0% | 9.6% | 1,025 | 10.8% | 8.9% | +115 | +1.2pp |
| Italian | 567 | 6.0% | 6.8% | 551 | 5.8% | 6.4% | +16 | +0.2pp |
| Chinese | 521 | 5.5% | 8.5% | 490 | 5.2% | 8.1% | +31 | +0.3pp |
| German | 381 | 4.0% | 3.4% | 370 | 3.9% | 3.3% | +11 | +0.1pp |
| Greek | 269 | 2.8% | 4.3% | 253 | 2.7% | 4.1% | +16 | +0.1pp |
| Indian | 145 | 1.5% | 1.9% | 113 | 1.2% | 2.1% | +32 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 141 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 137 | 1.4% | 1.1% | +4 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).