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 Mulgoa were Australian, English and Maltese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mulgoa - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mulgoa in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mulgoa, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Australian
2021 count
728
% of total
18.0%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
728
18.0%
-2.7pp
English
2021 count
703
% of total
17.4%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
703
17.4%
-1.5pp
Maltese
2021 count
202
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-
202
5.0%
-
Scottish
2021 count
173
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-4.8pp
173
4.3%
-4.8pp
Irish
2021 count
161
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
161
4.0%
-2.1pp
Italian
2021 count
129
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-
129
3.2%
-
German
2021 count
92
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
92
2.3%
-3.2pp
Lebanese
2021 count
64
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
64
1.6%
-
Dutch
2021 count
59
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
59
1.5%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
43
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
43
1.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+694
-2.7pp
English
+672
-1.5pp
Scottish
+158
-4.8pp
Irish
+151
-2.1pp
German
+83
-3.2pp
Dutch
+56
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mulgoa. 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 | 728 | 18.0% | 16.6% | 34 | 20.7% | 17.9% | +694 | -2.7pp |
| English | 703 | 17.4% | 15.1% | 31 | 18.9% | 16.6% | +672 | -1.5pp |
| Maltese | 202 | 5.0% | 2.0% | - | - | 1.9% | - | - |
| Scottish | 173 | 4.3% | 3.4% | 15 | 9.1% | 3.7% | +158 | -4.8pp |
| Irish | 161 | 4.0% | 4.1% | 10 | 6.1% | 4.9% | +151 | -2.1pp |
| Italian | 129 | 3.2% | 1.9% | - | - | 1.8% | - | - |
| German | 92 | 2.3% | 1.4% | 9 | 5.5% | 1.7% | +83 | -3.2pp |
| Lebanese | 64 | 1.6% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Dutch | 59 | 1.5% | 0.7% | 3 | 1.8% | 0.7% | +56 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 43 | 1.1% | 2.3% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Total | 4,038 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 164 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,874 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).