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 Colyton were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Colyton - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Colyton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Colyton, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Australian
2021 count
2,539
% of total
29.0%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
2,539
29.0%
-3.5pp
English
2021 count
2,203
% of total
25.1%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
2,203
25.1%
-2.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
514
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
514
5.9%
+5.2pp
Irish
2021 count
510
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
510
5.8%
-1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
495
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
495
5.6%
-0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
362
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
362
4.1%
+0.8pp
Indian
2021 count
332
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
332
3.8%
+0.4pp
Lebanese
2021 count
276
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
276
3.1%
+0.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
265
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
265
3.0%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
251
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
251
2.9%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-201
-3.5pp
English
-133
-2.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
+451
+5.2pp
Irish
-111
-1.6pp
Scottish
0
-0.3pp
Filipino
+82
+0.8pp
Indian
+41
+0.4pp
Lebanese
+32
+0.2pp
Maltese
+27
+0.2pp
Italian
+3
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Colyton. 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 | 2,539 | 29.0% | 33.3% | 2,740 | 32.5% | 35.7% | -201 | -3.5pp |
| English | 2,203 | 25.1% | 30.2% | 2,336 | 27.7% | 33.3% | -133 | -2.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 514 | 5.9% | 4.6% | 63 | 0.7% | 0.6% | +451 | +5.2pp |
| Irish | 510 | 5.8% | 8.2% | 621 | 7.4% | 9.8% | -111 | -1.6pp |
| Scottish | 495 | 5.6% | 6.7% | 495 | 5.9% | 7.4% | 0 | -0.3pp |
| Filipino | 362 | 4.1% | 3.6% | 280 | 3.3% | 2.8% | +82 | +0.8pp |
| Indian | 332 | 3.8% | 3.9% | 291 | 3.4% | 3.0% | +41 | +0.4pp |
| Lebanese | 276 | 3.1% | 1.4% | 244 | 2.9% | 1.2% | +32 | +0.2pp |
| Maltese | 265 | 3.0% | 4.0% | 238 | 2.8% | 3.9% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 251 | 2.9% | 3.7% | 248 | 2.9% | 3.7% | +3 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).