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 Waverley (NSW) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Waverley (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Waverley (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Waverley (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Waverley (NSW), with comparison markers for Waverley (A).
English
2021 count
1,457
% of total
34.6%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
1,457
34.6%
+3.1pp
Australian
2021 count
957
% of total
22.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
957
22.7%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
649
% of total
15.4%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
649
15.4%
+1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
392
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
392
9.3%
+0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
225
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
225
5.3%
+0.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
161
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
161
3.8%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
147
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
147
3.5%
0.0pp
Greek
2021 count
113
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
113
2.7%
+0.7pp
French
2021 count
100
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
100
2.4%
+1.0pp
Russian
2021 count
74
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
74
1.8%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+87
+3.1pp
Australian
-10
+0.4pp
Irish
+52
+1.7pp
Scottish
+20
+0.7pp
Italian
+17
+0.5pp
Chinese
+6
+0.2pp
German
-3
0.0pp
Greek
+27
+0.7pp
French
+37
+1.0pp
Russian
-17
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Waverley (NSW). 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 | 1,457 | 34.6% | 30.8% | 1,370 | 31.5% | 29.0% | +87 | +3.1pp |
| Australian | 957 | 22.7% | 21.3% | 967 | 22.3% | 20.9% | -10 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 649 | 15.4% | 12.0% | 597 | 13.7% | 12.2% | +52 | +1.7pp |
| Scottish | 392 | 9.3% | 7.7% | 372 | 8.6% | 7.3% | +20 | +0.7pp |
| Italian | 225 | 5.3% | 5.7% | 208 | 4.8% | 5.0% | +17 | +0.5pp |
| Chinese | 161 | 3.8% | 3.7% | 155 | 3.6% | 3.2% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| German | 147 | 3.5% | 4.2% | 150 | 3.5% | 4.2% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 113 | 2.7% | 2.6% | 86 | 2.0% | 2.3% | +27 | +0.7pp |
| French | 100 | 2.4% | 2.4% | 63 | 1.4% | 2.0% | +37 | +1.0pp |
| Russian | 74 | 1.8% | 2.4% | 91 | 2.1% | 2.6% | -17 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).