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 Lewisham (NSW) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lewisham (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lewisham (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lewisham (NSW), with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
English
2021 count
1,149
% of total
28.3%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
1,149
28.3%
-3.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,056
% of total
26.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,056
26.0%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
562
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
562
13.8%
-1.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
426
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
+4.7pp
426
10.5%
+4.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
363
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
363
8.9%
-1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
284
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
284
7.0%
+1.6pp
Greek
2021 count
150
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
150
3.7%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
126
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
126
3.1%
-1.6pp
Indian
2021 count
82
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
82
2.0%
+0.5pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
77
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
77
1.9%
+0.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+159
-3.0pp
Australian
+230
-0.1pp
Irish
+82
-1.4pp
Chinese
+244
+4.7pp
Scottish
+50
-1.0pp
Italian
+114
+1.6pp
Greek
+46
+0.4pp
German
-24
-1.6pp
Indian
+34
+0.5pp
Vietnamese
+44
+0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lewisham (NSW). 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 | 1,149 | 28.3% | 29.9% | 990 | 31.3% | 28.9% | +159 | -3.0pp |
| Australian | 1,056 | 26.0% | 24.4% | 826 | 26.1% | 23.0% | +230 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 562 | 13.8% | 13.7% | 480 | 15.2% | 13.5% | +82 | -1.4pp |
| Chinese | 426 | 10.5% | 8.5% | 182 | 5.8% | 8.1% | +244 | +4.7pp |
| Scottish | 363 | 8.9% | 9.6% | 313 | 9.9% | 8.9% | +50 | -1.0pp |
| Italian | 284 | 7.0% | 6.8% | 170 | 5.4% | 6.4% | +114 | +1.6pp |
| Greek | 150 | 3.7% | 4.3% | 104 | 3.3% | 4.1% | +46 | +0.4pp |
| German | 126 | 3.1% | 3.4% | 150 | 4.7% | 3.3% | -24 | -1.6pp |
| Indian | 82 | 2.0% | 1.9% | 48 | 1.5% | 2.1% | +34 | +0.5pp |
| Vietnamese | 77 | 1.9% | 2.4% | 33 | 1.0% | 2.3% | +44 | +0.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).