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 Dulwich Hill were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Dulwich Hill - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Dulwich Hill in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dulwich Hill, with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
English
2021 count
3,954
% of total
28.2%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
3,954
28.2%
+1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
3,366
% of total
24.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
3,366
24.0%
+1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
1,835
% of total
13.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,835
13.1%
+0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,276
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,276
9.1%
+0.6pp
Greek
2021 count
965
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
965
6.9%
-0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
781
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
781
5.6%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
730
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
730
5.2%
+0.3pp
Lebanese
2021 count
507
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
507
3.6%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
457
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
457
3.3%
+0.2pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
405
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
405
2.9%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+291
+1.5pp
Australian
+268
+1.4pp
Irish
+46
+0.1pp
Scottish
+105
+0.6pp
Greek
-16
-0.3pp
Chinese
+49
+0.3pp
Italian
+53
+0.3pp
Lebanese
+42
+0.2pp
German
+26
+0.2pp
Vietnamese
+9
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Dulwich Hill. 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 | 3,954 | 28.2% | 29.9% | 3,663 | 26.7% | 28.9% | +291 | +1.5pp |
| Australian | 3,366 | 24.0% | 24.4% | 3,098 | 22.6% | 23.0% | +268 | +1.4pp |
| Irish | 1,835 | 13.1% | 13.7% | 1,789 | 13.0% | 13.5% | +46 | +0.1pp |
| Scottish | 1,276 | 9.1% | 9.6% | 1,171 | 8.5% | 8.9% | +105 | +0.6pp |
| Greek | 965 | 6.9% | 4.3% | 981 | 7.2% | 4.1% | -16 | -0.3pp |
| Chinese | 781 | 5.6% | 8.5% | 732 | 5.3% | 8.1% | +49 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 730 | 5.2% | 6.8% | 677 | 4.9% | 6.4% | +53 | +0.3pp |
| Lebanese | 507 | 3.6% | 1.8% | 465 | 3.4% | 1.7% | +42 | +0.2pp |
| German | 457 | 3.3% | 3.4% | 431 | 3.1% | 3.3% | +26 | +0.2pp |
| Vietnamese | 405 | 2.9% | 2.4% | 396 | 2.9% | 2.3% | +9 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).