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 Rydalmere were Australian, Chinese and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Rydalmere - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Rydalmere in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Parramatta (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rydalmere, with comparison markers for Parramatta (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,364
% of total
18.8%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
1,364
18.8%
-1.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,296
% of total
17.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,296
17.8%
-0.5pp
English
2021 count
1,276
% of total
17.5%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
1,276
17.5%
-2.7pp
Korean
2021 count
585
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
585
8.0%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
447
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
447
6.1%
-1.5pp
Lebanese
2021 count
355
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
355
4.9%
+0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
306
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
306
4.2%
-1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
298
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
298
4.1%
-0.4pp
Indian
2021 count
231
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
231
3.2%
-0.7pp
Filipino
2021 count
222
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
222
3.1%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-10
-1.9pp
Chinese
+76
-0.5pp
English
-66
-2.7pp
Korean
+56
+0.1pp
Irish
-59
-1.5pp
Lebanese
+60
+0.5pp
Scottish
-48
-1.1pp
Italian
-1
-0.4pp
Indian
-30
-0.7pp
Filipino
+52
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Rydalmere. 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 | 1,364 | 18.8% | 13.9% | 1,374 | 20.7% | 16.0% | -10 | -1.9pp |
| Chinese | 1,296 | 17.8% | 22.3% | 1,220 | 18.3% | 20.0% | +76 | -0.5pp |
| English | 1,276 | 17.5% | 14.4% | 1,342 | 20.2% | 16.7% | -66 | -2.7pp |
| Korean | 585 | 8.0% | 5.9% | 529 | 7.9% | 5.2% | +56 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 447 | 6.1% | 4.5% | 506 | 7.6% | 5.9% | -59 | -1.5pp |
| Lebanese | 355 | 4.9% | 3.5% | 295 | 4.4% | 3.6% | +60 | +0.5pp |
| Scottish | 306 | 4.2% | 3.6% | 354 | 5.3% | 4.3% | -48 | -1.1pp |
| Italian | 298 | 4.1% | 2.5% | 299 | 4.5% | 2.6% | -1 | -0.4pp |
| Indian | 231 | 3.2% | 11.2% | 261 | 3.9% | 12.3% | -30 | -0.7pp |
| Filipino | 222 | 3.1% | 2.6% | 170 | 2.6% | 2.1% | +52 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).