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 Old Toongabbie were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Old Toongabbie - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Old Toongabbie in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Parramatta (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Old Toongabbie, with comparison markers for Parramatta (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,024
% of total
31.3%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
1,024
31.3%
-1.9pp
English
2021 count
818
% of total
25.0%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
818
25.0%
-3.6pp
Irish
2021 count
306
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
306
9.3%
-2.2pp
Indian
2021 count
207
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
207
6.3%
+0.4pp
Lebanese
2021 count
203
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
203
6.2%
+0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
190
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
190
5.8%
-2.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
171
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
171
5.2%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
139
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
139
4.2%
+0.4pp
Tamil, nfd
2021 count
107
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
107
3.3%
+2.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
81
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
81
2.5%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-15
-1.9pp
English
-77
-3.6pp
Irish
-55
-2.2pp
Indian
+21
+0.4pp
Lebanese
+38
+0.9pp
Scottish
-55
-2.0pp
Chinese
0
-0.3pp
Italian
+21
+0.4pp
Tamil, nfd
+74
+2.2pp
Maltese
+8
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Old Toongabbie. 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 | 1,024 | 31.3% | 13.9% | 1,039 | 33.2% | 16.0% | -15 | -1.9pp |
| English | 818 | 25.0% | 14.4% | 895 | 28.6% | 16.7% | -77 | -3.6pp |
| Irish | 306 | 9.3% | 4.5% | 361 | 11.5% | 5.9% | -55 | -2.2pp |
| Indian | 207 | 6.3% | 11.2% | 186 | 5.9% | 12.3% | +21 | +0.4pp |
| Lebanese | 203 | 6.2% | 3.5% | 165 | 5.3% | 3.6% | +38 | +0.9pp |
| Scottish | 190 | 5.8% | 3.6% | 245 | 7.8% | 4.3% | -55 | -2.0pp |
| Chinese | 171 | 5.2% | 22.3% | 171 | 5.5% | 20.0% | 0 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 139 | 4.2% | 2.5% | 118 | 3.8% | 2.6% | +21 | +0.4pp |
| Tamil, nfd | 107 | 3.3% | 1.5% | 33 | 1.1% | 0.5% | +74 | +2.2pp |
| Maltese | 81 | 2.5% | 0.6% | 73 | 2.3% | 0.6% | +8 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).