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 Downs were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Werrington Downs - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Werrington Downs in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Werrington Downs, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,359
% of total
42.2%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
1,359
42.2%
-1.5pp
English
2021 count
1,217
% of total
37.8%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
1,217
37.8%
-2.3pp
Irish
2021 count
283
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
283
8.8%
-4.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
266
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
266
8.3%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
214
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+5.6pp
214
6.6%
+5.6pp
German
2021 count
103
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
103
3.2%
-0.6pp
Maltese
2021 count
100
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
100
3.1%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
66
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
66
2.0%
-0.3pp
Lebanese
2021 count
59
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
59
1.8%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
50
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
50
1.6%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-62
-1.5pp
English
-85
-2.3pp
Irish
-132
-4.0pp
Scottish
-10
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+181
+5.6pp
German
-22
-0.6pp
Maltese
+14
+0.5pp
Italian
-8
-0.3pp
Lebanese
-3
-0.1pp
Filipino
0
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Werrington Downs. 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 | 1,359 | 42.2% | 33.3% | 1,421 | 43.7% | 35.7% | -62 | -1.5pp |
| English | 1,217 | 37.8% | 30.2% | 1,302 | 40.1% | 33.3% | -85 | -2.3pp |
| Irish | 283 | 8.8% | 8.2% | 415 | 12.8% | 9.8% | -132 | -4.0pp |
| Scottish | 266 | 8.3% | 6.7% | 276 | 8.5% | 7.4% | -10 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 214 | 6.6% | 4.6% | 33 | 1.0% | 0.6% | +181 | +5.6pp |
| German | 103 | 3.2% | 2.9% | 125 | 3.8% | 3.3% | -22 | -0.6pp |
| Maltese | 100 | 3.1% | 4.0% | 86 | 2.6% | 3.9% | +14 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 66 | 2.0% | 3.7% | 74 | 2.3% | 3.7% | -8 | -0.3pp |
| Lebanese | 59 | 1.8% | 1.4% | 62 | 1.9% | 1.2% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 50 | 1.6% | 3.6% | 50 | 1.5% | 2.8% | 0 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).