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 Londonderry (NSW) were Australian, English and Maltese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Londonderry (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Londonderry (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Londonderry (NSW), with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,457
% of total
36.2%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,457
36.2%
-1.1pp
English
2021 count
1,310
% of total
32.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,310
32.6%
+0.2pp
Maltese
2021 count
665
% of total
16.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
665
16.5%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
285
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
285
7.1%
-1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
254
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
254
6.3%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
179
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
179
4.4%
+3.8pp
Italian
2021 count
156
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
156
3.9%
+0.6pp
German
2021 count
114
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
114
2.8%
-0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
92
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
92
2.3%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
58
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
58
1.4%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+2
-1.1pp
English
+45
+0.2pp
Maltese
+21
0.0pp
Irish
-55
-1.6pp
Scottish
+21
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+156
+3.8pp
Italian
+26
+0.6pp
German
+1
-0.1pp
Dutch
+6
+0.1pp
Chinese
+15
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Londonderry (NSW). 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 | 1,457 | 36.2% | 33.3% | 1,455 | 37.3% | 35.7% | +2 | -1.1pp |
| English | 1,310 | 32.6% | 30.2% | 1,265 | 32.4% | 33.3% | +45 | +0.2pp |
| Maltese | 665 | 16.5% | 4.0% | 644 | 16.5% | 3.9% | +21 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 285 | 7.1% | 8.2% | 340 | 8.7% | 9.8% | -55 | -1.6pp |
| Scottish | 254 | 6.3% | 6.7% | 233 | 6.0% | 7.4% | +21 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 179 | 4.4% | 4.6% | 23 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +156 | +3.8pp |
| Italian | 156 | 3.9% | 3.7% | 130 | 3.3% | 3.7% | +26 | +0.6pp |
| German | 114 | 2.8% | 2.9% | 113 | 2.9% | 3.3% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Dutch | 92 | 2.3% | 1.4% | 86 | 2.2% | 1.5% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 58 | 1.4% | 2.1% | 43 | 1.1% | 1.8% | +15 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).