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 Spencer Park were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Spencer Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Spencer Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Albany (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Spencer Park, with comparison markers for Albany (C).
English
2021 count
1,597
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
1,597
23.2%
-2.5pp
Australian
2021 count
1,317
% of total
19.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,317
19.1%
+1.0pp
Irish
2021 count
336
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
336
4.9%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
329
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
329
4.8%
-1.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
162
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-
162
2.4%
-
Italian
2021 count
129
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
129
1.9%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
122
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
122
1.8%
-0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
83
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
83
1.2%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
78
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
78
1.1%
+1.0pp
Polish
2021 count
44
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
44
0.6%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+351
-2.5pp
Australian
+438
+1.0pp
Irish
+64
-0.7pp
Scottish
+46
-1.0pp
Italian
+44
+0.1pp
German
+22
-0.3pp
Dutch
+22
-0.1pp
Filipino
+75
+1.0pp
Polish
+19
+0.1pp
Chinese
+11
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Spencer Park. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Albany (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Albany (C)% | Count | % | Albany (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,597 | 23.2% | 23.6% | 1,246 | 25.7% | 23.7% | +351 | -2.5pp |
| Australian | 1,317 | 19.1% | 19.9% | 879 | 18.1% | 19.9% | +438 | +1.0pp |
| Irish | 336 | 4.9% | 4.3% | 272 | 5.6% | 4.4% | +64 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 329 | 4.8% | 5.0% | 283 | 5.8% | 5.0% | +46 | -1.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 162 | 2.4% | 1.6% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Italian | 129 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 85 | 1.8% | 1.6% | +44 | +0.1pp |
| German | 122 | 1.8% | 1.9% | 100 | 2.1% | 1.9% | +22 | -0.3pp |
| Dutch | 83 | 1.2% | 1.8% | 61 | 1.3% | 1.8% | +22 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 78 | 1.1% | 0.9% | 3 | 0.1% | 0.8% | +75 | +1.0pp |
| Polish | 44 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 25 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +19 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 6,884 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,844 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,040 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).