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 were Australian, English and Indian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Werrington - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Werrington in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Werrington, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,453
% of total
27.3%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
1,453
27.3%
-5.0pp
English
2021 count
1,278
% of total
24.0%
Change from 2016
-7.0pp
1,278
24.0%
-7.0pp
Indian
2021 count
341
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
341
6.4%
+1.6pp
Irish
2021 count
325
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
325
6.1%
-1.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
296
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
296
5.6%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
256
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
256
4.8%
-1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
244
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
244
4.6%
+4.0pp
Nepalese
2021 count
232
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
232
4.4%
+2.8pp
Samoan
2021 count
169
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
169
3.2%
+1.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
169
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
169
3.2%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+149
-5.0pp
English
+27
-7.0pp
Indian
+148
+1.6pp
Irish
+21
-1.4pp
Filipino
+85
+0.4pp
Scottish
+15
-1.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+221
+4.0pp
Nepalese
+169
+2.8pp
Samoan
+99
+1.5pp
Chinese
+58
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Werrington. 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 | 1,453 | 27.3% | 33.3% | 1,304 | 32.3% | 35.7% | +149 | -5.0pp |
| English | 1,278 | 24.0% | 30.2% | 1,251 | 31.0% | 33.3% | +27 | -7.0pp |
| Indian | 341 | 6.4% | 3.9% | 193 | 4.8% | 3.0% | +148 | +1.6pp |
| Irish | 325 | 6.1% | 8.2% | 304 | 7.5% | 9.8% | +21 | -1.4pp |
| Filipino | 296 | 5.6% | 3.6% | 211 | 5.2% | 2.8% | +85 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 256 | 4.8% | 6.7% | 241 | 6.0% | 7.4% | +15 | -1.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 244 | 4.6% | 4.6% | 23 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +221 | +4.0pp |
| Nepalese | 232 | 4.4% | 0.6% | 63 | 1.6% | 0.2% | +169 | +2.8pp |
| Samoan | 169 | 3.2% | 1.3% | 70 | 1.7% | 0.9% | +99 | +1.5pp |
| Chinese | 169 | 3.2% | 2.1% | 111 | 2.8% | 1.8% | +58 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).