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 East were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Willoughby East - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Willoughby East in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Willoughby (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Willoughby East, with comparison markers for Willoughby (C).
English
2021 count
644
% of total
34.5%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
644
34.5%
+1.1pp
Australian
2021 count
615
% of total
33.0%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
615
33.0%
-2.0pp
Irish
2021 count
250
% of total
13.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
250
13.4%
+0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
233
% of total
12.5%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
233
12.5%
+2.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
197
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
197
10.6%
+1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
95
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
95
5.1%
-0.7pp
German
2021 count
56
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
56
3.0%
+0.2pp
Greek
2021 count
38
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
38
2.0%
+0.2pp
Armenian
2021 count
37
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
37
2.0%
-0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
30
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
30
1.6%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+36
+1.1pp
Australian
-22
-2.0pp
Irish
+11
+0.3pp
Chinese
+55
+2.7pp
Scottish
+23
+1.1pp
Italian
-11
-0.7pp
German
+5
+0.2pp
Greek
+6
+0.2pp
Armenian
-2
-0.1pp
New Zealander
+3
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Willoughby East. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Willoughby (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 644 | 34.5% | 23.5% | 608 | 33.4% | 24.4% | +36 | +1.1pp |
| Australian | 615 | 33.0% | 20.0% | 637 | 35.0% | 20.2% | -22 | -2.0pp |
| Irish | 250 | 13.4% | 8.6% | 239 | 13.1% | 9.5% | +11 | +0.3pp |
| Chinese | 233 | 12.5% | 26.5% | 178 | 9.8% | 24.1% | +55 | +2.7pp |
| Scottish | 197 | 10.6% | 7.0% | 174 | 9.5% | 6.9% | +23 | +1.1pp |
| Italian | 95 | 5.1% | 3.2% | 106 | 5.8% | 3.2% | -11 | -0.7pp |
| German | 56 | 3.0% | 2.4% | 51 | 2.8% | 2.4% | +5 | +0.2pp |
| Greek | 38 | 2.0% | 1.3% | 32 | 1.8% | 1.2% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Armenian | 37 | 2.0% | 1.4% | 39 | 2.1% | 1.4% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 30 | 1.6% | 0.8% | 27 | 1.5% | 0.9% | +3 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).