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 Penrith were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Penrith - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Penrith in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Penrith, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
English
2021 count
5,620
% of total
15.7%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
5,620
15.7%
-1.7pp
Australian
2021 count
5,499
% of total
15.3%
Change from 2016
-13.9pp
5,499
15.3%
-13.9pp
Irish
2021 count
1,697
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
1,697
4.7%
-2.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,390
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,390
3.9%
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,035
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-
1,035
2.9%
-
Chinese
2021 count
667
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-
667
1.9%
-
German
2021 count
611
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
611
1.7%
-1.6pp
Indian
2021 count
608
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-
608
1.7%
-
Filipino
2021 count
573
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
573
1.6%
-
Italian
2021 count
533
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
533
1.5%
-1.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+5,530
-1.7pp
Australian
+5,348
-13.9pp
Irish
+1,660
-2.5pp
Scottish
+1,372
+0.4pp
German
+594
-1.6pp
Italian
+519
-1.2pp
Dutch
+275
-1.5pp
Welsh
+105
-0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Penrith. 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 | |
| English | 5,620 | 15.7% | 15.1% | 90 | 17.4% | 16.6% | +5,530 | -1.7pp |
| Australian | 5,499 | 15.3% | 16.6% | 151 | 29.2% | 17.9% | +5,348 | -13.9pp |
| Irish | 1,697 | 4.7% | 4.1% | 37 | 7.2% | 4.9% | +1,660 | -2.5pp |
| Scottish | 1,390 | 3.9% | 3.4% | 18 | 3.5% | 3.7% | +1,372 | +0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 1,035 | 2.9% | 2.3% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Chinese | 667 | 1.9% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| German | 611 | 1.7% | 1.4% | 17 | 3.3% | 1.7% | +594 | -1.6pp |
| Indian | 608 | 1.7% | 2.0% | - | - | 1.5% | - | - |
| Filipino | 573 | 1.6% | 1.8% | - | - | 1.4% | - | - |
| Italian | 533 | 1.5% | 1.9% | 14 | 2.7% | 1.8% | +519 | -1.2pp |
| Total | 35,846 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 517 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +35,329 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).