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 Bondi Junction were English, Australian and Irish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Bondi Junction - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Bondi Junction in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Waverley (A) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Bondi Junction, with comparison markers for Waverley (A).

Bondi Junction
Waverley (A)

English

2021 count

2,755

% of total

26.6%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

Australian

2021 count

1,713

% of total

16.5%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Irish

2021 count

1,283

% of total

12.4%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Chinese

2021 count

806

% of total

7.8%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

Scottish

2021 count

697

% of total

6.7%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Italian

2021 count

586

% of total

5.7%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

German

2021 count

377

% of total

3.6%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Russian

2021 count

280

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Greek

2021 count

228

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Jewish

2021 count

228

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Data table

Ancestry for Bondi Junction. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Waverley (A).

Ancestry for Bondi Junction. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Waverley (A).
Ancestry for Bondi Junction. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Waverley (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Waverley (A)%Count%Waverley (A)%Countpp
English2,75526.6%30.8%2,31824.5%29.0%+437+2.1pp
Australian1,71316.5%21.3%1,53216.2%20.9%+181+0.3pp
Irish1,28312.4%12.0%1,18612.6%12.2%+97-0.2pp
Chinese8067.8%3.7%6196.6%3.2%+187+1.2pp
Scottish6976.7%7.7%5956.3%7.3%+102+0.4pp
Italian5865.7%5.7%4434.7%5.0%+143+1.0pp
German3773.6%4.2%3193.4%4.2%+58+0.2pp
Russian2802.7%2.4%2712.9%2.6%+9-0.2pp
Greek2282.2%2.6%1852.0%2.3%+43+0.2pp
Jewish2282.2%2.8%1872.0%2.1%+41+0.2pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).