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 Werrington County were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Werrington County - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Werrington County in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Werrington County, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,458
% of total
39.4%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
1,458
39.4%
-2.5pp
English
2021 count
1,348
% of total
36.5%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
1,348
36.5%
-2.8pp
Irish
2021 count
386
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
386
10.4%
-1.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
313
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
313
8.5%
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
226
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+5.3pp
226
6.1%
+5.3pp
Maltese
2021 count
123
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
123
3.3%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
112
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
112
3.0%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
107
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
107
2.9%
-1.2pp
Indian
2021 count
82
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
82
2.2%
+0.9pp
Maori
2021 count
63
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
63
1.7%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-70
-2.5pp
English
-83
-2.8pp
Irish
-39
-1.3pp
Scottish
-6
-0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+198
+5.3pp
Maltese
+15
+0.3pp
Italian
-14
-0.5pp
German
-42
-1.2pp
Indian
+33
+0.9pp
Maori
+16
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Werrington County. 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 | 1,458 | 39.4% | 33.3% | 1,528 | 41.9% | 35.7% | -70 | -2.5pp |
| English | 1,348 | 36.5% | 30.2% | 1,431 | 39.3% | 33.3% | -83 | -2.8pp |
| Irish | 386 | 10.4% | 8.2% | 425 | 11.7% | 9.8% | -39 | -1.3pp |
| Scottish | 313 | 8.5% | 6.7% | 319 | 8.8% | 7.4% | -6 | -0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 226 | 6.1% | 4.6% | 28 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +198 | +5.3pp |
| Maltese | 123 | 3.3% | 4.0% | 108 | 3.0% | 3.9% | +15 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 112 | 3.0% | 3.7% | 126 | 3.5% | 3.7% | -14 | -0.5pp |
| German | 107 | 2.9% | 2.9% | 149 | 4.1% | 3.3% | -42 | -1.2pp |
| Indian | 82 | 2.2% | 3.9% | 49 | 1.3% | 3.0% | +33 | +0.9pp |
| Maori | 63 | 1.7% | 1.1% | 47 | 1.3% | 0.9% | +16 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).