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 Epping (NSW) were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Epping (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Epping (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Parramatta (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Epping (NSW), with comparison markers for Parramatta (C).
Chinese
2021 count
11,927
% of total
40.4%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
11,927
40.4%
+3.1pp
English
2021 count
3,635
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
3,635
12.3%
-3.9pp
Australian
2021 count
3,141
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
3,141
10.6%
-3.7pp
Korean
2021 count
2,926
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
2,926
9.9%
+0.4pp
Indian
2021 count
2,848
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
2,848
9.6%
+1.9pp
Irish
2021 count
1,126
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
1,126
3.8%
-1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,027
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
1,027
3.5%
-1.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
509
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
509
1.7%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
481
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
481
1.6%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
354
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
354
1.2%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+3,091
+3.1pp
English
-201
-3.9pp
Australian
-238
-3.7pp
Korean
+667
+0.4pp
Indian
+1,022
+1.9pp
Irish
-200
-1.8pp
Scottish
-94
-1.2pp
Filipino
+246
+0.6pp
Italian
+6
-0.4pp
German
-53
-0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Epping (NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Parramatta (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Parramatta (C)% | Count | % | Parramatta (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Chinese | 11,927 | 40.4% | 22.3% | 8,836 | 37.3% | 20.0% | +3,091 | +3.1pp |
| English | 3,635 | 12.3% | 14.4% | 3,836 | 16.2% | 16.7% | -201 | -3.9pp |
| Australian | 3,141 | 10.6% | 13.9% | 3,379 | 14.3% | 16.0% | -238 | -3.7pp |
| Korean | 2,926 | 9.9% | 5.9% | 2,259 | 9.5% | 5.2% | +667 | +0.4pp |
| Indian | 2,848 | 9.6% | 11.2% | 1,826 | 7.7% | 12.3% | +1,022 | +1.9pp |
| Irish | 1,126 | 3.8% | 4.5% | 1,326 | 5.6% | 5.9% | -200 | -1.8pp |
| Scottish | 1,027 | 3.5% | 3.6% | 1,121 | 4.7% | 4.3% | -94 | -1.2pp |
| Filipino | 509 | 1.7% | 2.6% | 263 | 1.1% | 2.1% | +246 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 481 | 1.6% | 2.5% | 475 | 2.0% | 2.6% | +6 | -0.4pp |
| German | 354 | 1.2% | 1.3% | 407 | 1.7% | 1.6% | -53 | -0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).