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 were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bondi - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bondi in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Waverley (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bondi, with comparison markers for Waverley (A).
English
2021 count
3,169
% of total
15.3%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
3,169
15.3%
-3.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,948
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
-11.7pp
1,948
9.4%
-11.7pp
Irish
2021 count
1,279
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-
1,279
6.2%
-
Scottish
2021 count
801
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-6.0pp
801
3.9%
-6.0pp
Italian
2021 count
710
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-
710
3.4%
-
German
2021 count
430
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-
430
2.1%
-
Jewish
2021 count
315
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
315
1.5%
-
Russian
2021 count
300
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
300
1.4%
-
Spanish
2021 count
287
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
287
1.4%
-
Chinese
2021 count
275
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
275
1.3%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+3,156
-3.0pp
Australian
+1,933
-11.7pp
Scottish
+794
-6.0pp
New Zealander
+116
-7.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bondi. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Waverley (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Waverley (A)% | Count | % | Waverley (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,169 | 15.3% | 15.4% | 13 | 18.3% | 14.5% | +3,156 | -3.0pp |
| Australian | 1,948 | 9.4% | 10.6% | 15 | 21.1% | 10.4% | +1,933 | -11.7pp |
| Irish | 1,279 | 6.2% | 6.0% | - | - | 6.1% | - | - |
| Scottish | 801 | 3.9% | 3.8% | 7 | 9.9% | 3.7% | +794 | -6.0pp |
| Italian | 710 | 3.4% | 2.8% | - | - | 2.5% | - | - |
| German | 430 | 2.1% | 2.1% | - | - | 2.1% | - | - |
| Jewish | 315 | 1.5% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Russian | 300 | 1.4% | 1.2% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| Spanish | 287 | 1.4% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| Chinese | 275 | 1.3% | 1.9% | - | - | 1.6% | - | - |
| Total | 20,755 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 71 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +20,684 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).