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 Parramatta (C) were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Parramatta (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Parramatta (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Parramatta (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Chinese
2021 count
57,353
% of total
22.3%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
57,353
22.3%
+2.3pp
English
2021 count
36,891
% of total
14.4%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
36,891
14.4%
-2.3pp
Australian
2021 count
35,559
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
35,559
13.9%
-2.1pp
Indian
2021 count
28,867
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
28,867
11.2%
-1.1pp
Korean
2021 count
15,235
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
15,235
5.9%
+0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
11,599
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
11,599
4.5%
-1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
9,367
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
9,367
3.6%
-0.7pp
Lebanese
2021 count
9,091
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
9,091
3.5%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
6,733
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
6,733
2.6%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
6,460
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
6,460
2.5%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+12,169
+2.3pp
English
-895
-2.3pp
Australian
-714
-2.1pp
Indian
+1,028
-1.1pp
Korean
+3,465
+0.7pp
Irish
-1,695
-1.4pp
Scottish
-415
-0.7pp
Lebanese
+907
-0.1pp
Filipino
+1,922
+0.5pp
Italian
+490
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Parramatta (C). 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 | |
| Chinese | 57,353 | 22.3% | 10.6% | 45,184 | 20.0% | 10.1% | +12,169 | +2.3pp |
| English | 36,891 | 14.4% | 23.8% | 37,786 | 16.7% | 25.3% | -895 | -2.3pp |
| Australian | 35,559 | 13.9% | 22.3% | 36,273 | 16.0% | 23.5% | -714 | -2.1pp |
| Indian | 28,867 | 11.2% | 4.5% | 27,839 | 12.3% | 4.0% | +1,028 | -1.1pp |
| Korean | 15,235 | 5.9% | 1.3% | 11,770 | 5.2% | 1.3% | +3,465 | +0.7pp |
| Irish | 11,599 | 4.5% | 7.7% | 13,294 | 5.9% | 8.6% | -1,695 | -1.4pp |
| Scottish | 9,367 | 3.6% | 6.0% | 9,782 | 4.3% | 6.4% | -415 | -0.7pp |
| Lebanese | 9,091 | 3.5% | 3.3% | 8,184 | 3.6% | 3.3% | +907 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 6,733 | 2.6% | 2.5% | 4,811 | 2.1% | 2.1% | +1,922 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 6,460 | 2.5% | 4.3% | 5,970 | 2.6% | 4.2% | +490 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).