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 Lilyfield were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lilyfield - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lilyfield in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lilyfield, with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
English
2021 count
2,662
% of total
17.5%
Change from 2016
-9.4pp
2,662
17.5%
-9.4pp
Australian
2021 count
2,269
% of total
14.9%
Change from 2016
-9.5pp
2,269
14.9%
-9.5pp
Irish
2021 count
1,144
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-5.1pp
1,144
7.5%
-5.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
790
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
790
5.2%
+2.7pp
Italian
2021 count
571
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-
571
3.8%
-
Chinese
2021 count
384
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-
384
2.5%
-
German
2021 count
261
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
261
1.7%
-0.8pp
Greek
2021 count
245
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
245
1.6%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
111
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-
111
0.7%
-
Indian
2021 count
107
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-
107
0.7%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,630
-9.4pp
Australian
+2,240
-9.5pp
Irish
+1,129
-5.1pp
Scottish
+787
+2.7pp
German
+258
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lilyfield. 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 | 2,662 | 17.5% | 14.9% | 32 | 26.9% | 14.4% | +2,630 | -9.4pp |
| Australian | 2,269 | 14.9% | 12.2% | 29 | 24.4% | 11.5% | +2,240 | -9.5pp |
| Irish | 1,144 | 7.5% | 6.8% | 15 | 12.6% | 6.7% | +1,129 | -5.1pp |
| Scottish | 790 | 5.2% | 4.8% | 3 | 2.5% | 4.4% | +787 | +2.7pp |
| Italian | 571 | 3.8% | 3.4% | - | - | 3.2% | - | - |
| Chinese | 384 | 2.5% | 4.2% | - | - | 4.0% | - | - |
| German | 261 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 3 | 2.5% | 1.6% | +258 | -0.8pp |
| Greek | 245 | 1.6% | 2.1% | - | - | 2.1% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 111 | 0.7% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Indian | 107 | 0.7% | 1.0% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Total | 15,204 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 119 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +15,085 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).