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 Oatlands (NSW) were Australian, Chinese and Lebanese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Oatlands (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Oatlands (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Parramatta (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Oatlands (NSW), with comparison markers for Parramatta (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,099
% of total
18.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,099
18.8%
-0.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,030
% of total
17.7%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
1,030
17.7%
+1.6pp
Lebanese
2021 count
962
% of total
16.5%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
962
16.5%
+0.9pp
English
2021 count
960
% of total
16.5%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
960
16.5%
-3.1pp
Korean
2021 count
349
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
349
6.0%
-1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
336
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
336
5.8%
-1.2pp
Indian
2021 count
281
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
281
4.8%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
277
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
277
4.7%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
162
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
162
2.8%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
101
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
101
1.7%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+8
-0.5pp
Chinese
+118
+1.6pp
Lebanese
+80
+0.9pp
English
-147
-3.1pp
Korean
-53
-1.1pp
Irish
-62
-1.2pp
Indian
+33
+0.4pp
Scottish
+19
+0.1pp
Italian
+2
0.0pp
Greek
+10
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Oatlands (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 | |
| Australian | 1,099 | 18.8% | 13.9% | 1,091 | 19.3% | 16.0% | +8 | -0.5pp |
| Chinese | 1,030 | 17.7% | 22.3% | 912 | 16.1% | 20.0% | +118 | +1.6pp |
| Lebanese | 962 | 16.5% | 3.5% | 882 | 15.6% | 3.6% | +80 | +0.9pp |
| English | 960 | 16.5% | 14.4% | 1,107 | 19.6% | 16.7% | -147 | -3.1pp |
| Korean | 349 | 6.0% | 5.9% | 402 | 7.1% | 5.2% | -53 | -1.1pp |
| Irish | 336 | 5.8% | 4.5% | 398 | 7.0% | 5.9% | -62 | -1.2pp |
| Indian | 281 | 4.8% | 11.2% | 248 | 4.4% | 12.3% | +33 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 277 | 4.7% | 3.6% | 258 | 4.6% | 4.3% | +19 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 162 | 2.8% | 2.5% | 160 | 2.8% | 2.6% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 101 | 1.7% | 1.0% | 91 | 1.6% | 1.1% | +10 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).