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 Lane Cove (A) were English, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lane Cove (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lane Cove (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lane Cove (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
English
2021 count
11,250
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
11,250
14.3%
-1.3pp
Australian
2021 count
9,600
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
9,600
12.2%
-0.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
5,546
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
5,546
7.0%
+1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
4,587
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
4,587
5.8%
-0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
3,304
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
3,304
4.2%
-0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
1,671
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,671
2.1%
+0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
1,619
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,619
2.1%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
1,250
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,250
1.6%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
747
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
747
0.9%
+0.2pp
Iranian
2021 count
664
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
664
0.8%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+15
-1.3pp
Australian
+492
-0.4pp
Chinese
+1,417
+1.3pp
Irish
-188
-0.8pp
Scottish
-11
-0.4pp
Italian
+298
+0.2pp
Indian
+320
+0.3pp
German
+36
-0.1pp
Filipino
+233
+0.2pp
Iranian
+161
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lane Cove (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 | 11,250 | 14.3% | 11.9% | 11,235 | 15.6% | 12.6% | +15 | -1.3pp |
| Australian | 9,600 | 12.2% | 11.2% | 9,108 | 12.6% | 11.8% | +492 | -0.4pp |
| Chinese | 5,546 | 7.0% | 5.3% | 4,129 | 5.7% | 5.1% | +1,417 | +1.3pp |
| Irish | 4,587 | 5.8% | 3.8% | 4,775 | 6.6% | 4.3% | -188 | -0.8pp |
| Scottish | 3,304 | 4.2% | 3.0% | 3,315 | 4.6% | 3.2% | -11 | -0.4pp |
| Italian | 1,671 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1,373 | 1.9% | 2.1% | +298 | +0.2pp |
| Indian | 1,619 | 2.1% | 2.3% | 1,299 | 1.8% | 2.0% | +320 | +0.3pp |
| German | 1,250 | 1.6% | 1.2% | 1,214 | 1.7% | 1.3% | +36 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 747 | 0.9% | 1.2% | 514 | 0.7% | 1.1% | +233 | +0.2pp |
| Iranian | 664 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 503 | 0.7% | 0.2% | +161 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 78,884 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 72,019 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,865 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).