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 Strathfield (A) were Chinese, Indian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Strathfield (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Strathfield (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Strathfield (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Chinese
2021 count
9,756
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
9,756
10.7%
+0.4pp
Indian
2021 count
5,005
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
5,005
5.5%
-0.9pp
English
2021 count
4,047
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
4,047
4.4%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
3,757
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
3,757
4.1%
-0.3pp
Nepalese
2021 count
3,145
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
3,145
3.4%
+1.9pp
Korean
2021 count
3,092
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
3,092
3.4%
-1.2pp
Lebanese
2021 count
2,684
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,684
2.9%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
1,868
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,868
2.0%
-0.4pp
Tamil, nfd
2021 count
1,514
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
1,514
1.7%
+0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
1,431
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,431
1.6%
-0.3pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+1,422
+0.4pp
Indian
-181
-0.9pp
English
+439
-0.1pp
Australian
+239
-0.3pp
Nepalese
+1,912
+1.9pp
Korean
-590
-1.2pp
Lebanese
+216
-0.2pp
Italian
-106
-0.4pp
Tamil, nfd
+853
+0.9pp
Irish
-100
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Strathfield (A). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Chinese | 9,756 | 10.7% | 5.3% | 8,334 | 10.3% | 5.1% | +1,422 | +0.4pp |
| Indian | 5,005 | 5.5% | 2.3% | 5,186 | 6.4% | 2.0% | -181 | -0.9pp |
| English | 4,047 | 4.4% | 11.9% | 3,608 | 4.5% | 12.6% | +439 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 3,757 | 4.1% | 11.2% | 3,518 | 4.4% | 11.8% | +239 | -0.3pp |
| Nepalese | 3,145 | 3.4% | 0.6% | 1,233 | 1.5% | 0.4% | +1,912 | +1.9pp |
| Korean | 3,092 | 3.4% | 0.7% | 3,682 | 4.6% | 0.7% | -590 | -1.2pp |
| Lebanese | 2,684 | 2.9% | 1.6% | 2,468 | 3.1% | 1.7% | +216 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 1,868 | 2.0% | 2.1% | 1,974 | 2.4% | 2.1% | -106 | -0.4pp |
| Tamil, nfd | 1,514 | 1.7% | 0.2% | 661 | 0.8% | 0.1% | +853 | +0.9pp |
| Irish | 1,431 | 1.6% | 3.8% | 1,531 | 1.9% | 4.3% | -100 | -0.3pp |
| Total | 91,165 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 80,586 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +10,579 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).