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 Mount Vernon were Italian, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mount Vernon - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mount Vernon in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Vernon, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Italian
2021 count
320
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
+8.7pp
320
12.9%
+8.7pp
Australian
2021 count
215
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
-6.3pp
215
8.7%
-6.3pp
English
2021 count
148
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-12.3pp
148
6.0%
-12.3pp
Maltese
2021 count
132
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-
132
5.3%
-
Assyrian
2021 count
104
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-
104
4.2%
-
Croatian
2021 count
73
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-
73
2.9%
-
Irish
2021 count
46
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-
46
1.9%
-
Lebanese
2021 count
45
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
45
1.8%
-
German
2021 count
38
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
38
1.5%
-
Serbian
2021 count
34
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
34
1.4%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Italian
+315
+8.7pp
Australian
+197
-6.3pp
English
+126
-12.3pp
Scottish
+16
-5.7pp
Polish
+18
-1.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mount Vernon. 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 | |
| Italian | 320 | 12.9% | 1.9% | 5 | 4.2% | 1.8% | +315 | +8.7pp |
| Australian | 215 | 8.7% | 16.6% | 18 | 15.0% | 17.9% | +197 | -6.3pp |
| English | 148 | 6.0% | 15.1% | 22 | 18.3% | 16.6% | +126 | -12.3pp |
| Maltese | 132 | 5.3% | 2.0% | - | - | 1.9% | - | - |
| Assyrian | 104 | 4.2% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Croatian | 73 | 2.9% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Irish | 46 | 1.9% | 4.1% | - | - | 4.9% | - | - |
| Lebanese | 45 | 1.8% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| German | 38 | 1.5% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.7% | - | - |
| Serbian | 34 | 1.4% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Total | 2,477 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 120 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,357 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).