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 Newington (NSW) were Chinese, Korean and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Newington (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Newington (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Parramatta (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Newington (NSW), with comparison markers for Parramatta (C).
Chinese
2021 count
1,501
% of total
13.3%
Change from 2016
-
1,501
13.3%
-
Korean
2021 count
835
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
-
835
7.4%
-
English
2021 count
812
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-15.9pp
812
7.2%
-15.9pp
Australian
2021 count
748
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-16.5pp
748
6.6%
-16.5pp
Irish
2021 count
298
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-5.5pp
298
2.6%
-5.5pp
Italian
2021 count
257
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-
257
2.3%
-
Indian
2021 count
256
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-
256
2.3%
-
Filipino
2021 count
246
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-
246
2.2%
-
Scottish
2021 count
215
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
215
1.9%
-2.4pp
Turkish
2021 count
105
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-
105
0.9%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+758
-15.9pp
Australian
+694
-16.5pp
Irish
+279
-5.5pp
Scottish
+205
-2.4pp
German
+79
-1.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Newington (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 | 1,501 | 13.3% | 11.2% | - | - | 10.0% | - | - |
| Korean | 835 | 7.4% | 3.0% | - | - | 2.6% | - | - |
| English | 812 | 7.2% | 7.2% | 54 | 23.1% | 8.4% | +758 | -15.9pp |
| Australian | 748 | 6.6% | 6.9% | 54 | 23.1% | 8.0% | +694 | -16.5pp |
| Irish | 298 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 19 | 8.1% | 2.9% | +279 | -5.5pp |
| Italian | 257 | 2.3% | 1.3% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| Indian | 256 | 2.3% | 5.6% | - | - | 6.2% | - | - |
| Filipino | 246 | 2.2% | 1.3% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| Scottish | 215 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 10 | 4.3% | 2.2% | +205 | -2.4pp |
| Turkish | 105 | 0.9% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Total | 11,280 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 234 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +11,046 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).