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 Willoughby (C) were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Willoughby (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Willoughby (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Willoughby (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Chinese
2021 count
20,008
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
20,008
13.2%
+1.1pp
English
2021 count
17,755
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
17,755
11.7%
-0.5pp
Australian
2021 count
15,120
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
15,120
10.0%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
6,478
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
6,478
4.3%
-0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
5,276
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
5,276
3.5%
+0.1pp
Indian
2021 count
2,985
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
2,985
2.0%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
2,446
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,446
1.6%
0.0pp
Korean
2021 count
2,101
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
2,101
1.4%
-0.4pp
Japanese
2021 count
1,976
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,976
1.3%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
1,800
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,800
1.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+2,072
+1.1pp
English
-361
-0.5pp
Australian
+118
-0.1pp
Irish
-581
-0.5pp
Scottish
+161
+0.1pp
Indian
+420
+0.3pp
Italian
+91
0.0pp
Korean
-574
-0.4pp
Japanese
+79
0.0pp
German
-13
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Willoughby (C). 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 | 20,008 | 13.2% | 5.3% | 17,936 | 12.1% | 5.1% | +2,072 | +1.1pp |
| English | 17,755 | 11.7% | 11.9% | 18,116 | 12.2% | 12.6% | -361 | -0.5pp |
| Australian | 15,120 | 10.0% | 11.2% | 15,002 | 10.1% | 11.8% | +118 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 6,478 | 4.3% | 3.8% | 7,059 | 4.8% | 4.3% | -581 | -0.5pp |
| Scottish | 5,276 | 3.5% | 3.0% | 5,115 | 3.4% | 3.2% | +161 | +0.1pp |
| Indian | 2,985 | 2.0% | 2.3% | 2,565 | 1.7% | 2.0% | +420 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 2,446 | 1.6% | 2.1% | 2,355 | 1.6% | 2.1% | +91 | 0.0pp |
| Korean | 2,101 | 1.4% | 0.7% | 2,675 | 1.8% | 0.7% | -574 | -0.4pp |
| Japanese | 1,976 | 1.3% | 0.2% | 1,897 | 1.3% | 0.2% | +79 | 0.0pp |
| German | 1,800 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1,813 | 1.2% | 1.3% | -13 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 151,204 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 148,594 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,610 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).