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 North Rocks (part) were Chinese, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
North Rocks (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for North Rocks (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Parramatta (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for North Rocks (part), with comparison markers for Parramatta (C).
Chinese
2021 count
2,033
% of total
22.3%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
2,033
22.3%
+2.7pp
Australian
2021 count
1,962
% of total
21.5%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
1,962
21.5%
-4.0pp
English
2021 count
1,962
% of total
21.5%
Change from 2016
-4.9pp
1,962
21.5%
-4.9pp
Irish
2021 count
634
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
634
6.9%
-2.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
604
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
604
6.6%
-0.6pp
Korean
2021 count
499
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
499
5.5%
+1.1pp
Indian
2021 count
448
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
448
4.9%
+1.7pp
Italian
2021 count
310
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
310
3.4%
-0.5pp
Lebanese
2021 count
295
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
295
3.2%
0.0pp
Iranian
2021 count
217
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
217
2.4%
+1.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+473
+2.7pp
Australian
-66
-4.0pp
English
-142
-4.9pp
Irish
-78
-2.0pp
Scottish
+31
-0.6pp
Korean
+147
+1.1pp
Indian
+196
+1.7pp
Italian
-1
-0.5pp
Lebanese
+41
0.0pp
Iranian
+127
+1.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for North Rocks (part). 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 | 2,033 | 22.3% | 22.3% | 1,560 | 19.6% | 20.0% | +473 | +2.7pp |
| Australian | 1,962 | 21.5% | 13.9% | 2,028 | 25.5% | 16.0% | -66 | -4.0pp |
| English | 1,962 | 21.5% | 14.4% | 2,104 | 26.4% | 16.7% | -142 | -4.9pp |
| Irish | 634 | 6.9% | 4.5% | 712 | 8.9% | 5.9% | -78 | -2.0pp |
| Scottish | 604 | 6.6% | 3.6% | 573 | 7.2% | 4.3% | +31 | -0.6pp |
| Korean | 499 | 5.5% | 5.9% | 352 | 4.4% | 5.2% | +147 | +1.1pp |
| Indian | 448 | 4.9% | 11.2% | 252 | 3.2% | 12.3% | +196 | +1.7pp |
| Italian | 310 | 3.4% | 2.5% | 311 | 3.9% | 2.6% | -1 | -0.5pp |
| Lebanese | 295 | 3.2% | 3.5% | 254 | 3.2% | 3.6% | +41 | 0.0pp |
| Iranian | 217 | 2.4% | 1.5% | 90 | 1.1% | 1.3% | +127 | +1.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).