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 Parramatta were Indian, Chinese and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Parramatta - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Parramatta in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Parramatta (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Parramatta, with comparison markers for Parramatta (C).
Indian
2021 count
8,233
% of total
27.3%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
8,233
27.3%
-3.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
4,621
% of total
15.3%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
4,621
15.3%
-3.1pp
English
2021 count
2,580
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,580
8.5%
-0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
2,060
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,060
6.8%
-0.6pp
Nepalese
2021 count
1,653
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
1,653
5.5%
+3.9pp
Filipino
2021 count
995
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
995
3.3%
+0.5pp
Tamil, nfd
2021 count
916
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
916
3.0%
+2.4pp
Lebanese
2021 count
753
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
753
2.5%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
652
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
652
2.2%
-0.4pp
Southern Asian, nfd
2021 count
627
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
627
2.1%
+1.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Indian
+366
-3.3pp
Chinese
-122
-3.1pp
English
+334
-0.2pp
Australian
+160
-0.6pp
Nepalese
+1,230
+3.9pp
Filipino
+285
+0.5pp
Tamil, nfd
+753
+2.4pp
Lebanese
+46
-0.2pp
Irish
-22
-0.4pp
Southern Asian, nfd
+360
+1.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Parramatta. 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 | |
| Indian | 8,233 | 27.3% | 11.2% | 7,867 | 30.6% | 12.3% | +366 | -3.3pp |
| Chinese | 4,621 | 15.3% | 22.3% | 4,743 | 18.4% | 20.0% | -122 | -3.1pp |
| English | 2,580 | 8.5% | 14.4% | 2,246 | 8.7% | 16.7% | +334 | -0.2pp |
| Australian | 2,060 | 6.8% | 13.9% | 1,900 | 7.4% | 16.0% | +160 | -0.6pp |
| Nepalese | 1,653 | 5.5% | 1.8% | 423 | 1.6% | 0.6% | +1,230 | +3.9pp |
| Filipino | 995 | 3.3% | 2.6% | 710 | 2.8% | 2.1% | +285 | +0.5pp |
| Tamil, nfd | 916 | 3.0% | 1.5% | 163 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +753 | +2.4pp |
| Lebanese | 753 | 2.5% | 3.5% | 707 | 2.7% | 3.6% | +46 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 652 | 2.2% | 4.5% | 674 | 2.6% | 5.9% | -22 | -0.4pp |
| Southern Asian, nfd | 627 | 2.1% | 0.8% | 267 | 1.0% | 0.5% | +360 | +1.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).