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 Berkshire Park were Australian, Maltese and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Berkshire Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Berkshire Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Berkshire Park, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Australian
2021 count
311
% of total
14.5%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
311
14.5%
-1.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
306
% of total
14.2%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
306
14.2%
-0.8pp
English
2021 count
269
% of total
12.5%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
269
12.5%
-1.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
49
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
49
2.3%
-0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
49
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
49
2.3%
-1.2pp
Italian
2021 count
41
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
41
1.9%
+0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
36
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
36
1.7%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
23
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
23
1.1%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
19
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-
19
0.9%
-
Lebanese
2021 count
19
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
19
0.9%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-24
-1.2pp
Maltese
-14
-0.8pp
English
-29
-1.5pp
Scottish
-11
-0.5pp
Irish
-25
-1.2pp
Italian
+7
+0.3pp
Chinese
+11
+0.5pp
German
-4
-0.2pp
Lebanese
-9
-0.4pp
Indian
+2
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Berkshire Park. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 311 | 14.5% | 33.3% | 335 | 15.7% | 35.7% | -24 | -1.2pp |
| Maltese | 306 | 14.2% | 4.0% | 320 | 15.0% | 3.9% | -14 | -0.8pp |
| English | 269 | 12.5% | 30.2% | 298 | 14.0% | 33.3% | -29 | -1.5pp |
| Scottish | 49 | 2.3% | 6.7% | 60 | 2.8% | 7.4% | -11 | -0.5pp |
| Irish | 49 | 2.3% | 8.2% | 74 | 3.5% | 9.8% | -25 | -1.2pp |
| Italian | 41 | 1.9% | 3.7% | 34 | 1.6% | 3.7% | +7 | +0.3pp |
| Chinese | 36 | 1.7% | 2.1% | 25 | 1.2% | 1.8% | +11 | +0.5pp |
| German | 23 | 1.1% | 2.9% | 27 | 1.3% | 3.3% | -4 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 19 | 0.9% | 4.6% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Lebanese | 19 | 0.9% | 1.4% | 28 | 1.3% | 1.2% | -9 | -0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).