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 Augusta-Margaret River (S) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Augusta-Margaret River (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Augusta-Margaret River (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Augusta-Margaret River (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
7,785
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
7,785
23.2%
+1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
6,043
% of total
18.0%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
6,043
18.0%
-1.8pp
Irish
2021 count
1,827
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,827
5.4%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,825
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,825
5.4%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
718
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
718
2.1%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
650
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
650
1.9%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
409
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
409
1.2%
0.0pp
New Zealander
2021 count
249
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
249
0.7%
-0.1pp
French
2021 count
215
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
215
0.6%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
209
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
209
0.6%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,509
+1.2pp
Australian
+390
-1.8pp
Irish
+275
0.0pp
Scottish
+296
0.0pp
German
+150
+0.1pp
Italian
+229
+0.4pp
Dutch
+77
0.0pp
New Zealander
+11
-0.1pp
French
+94
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+183
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Augusta-Margaret River (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 7,785 | 23.2% | 20.0% | 6,276 | 22.0% | 19.7% | +1,509 | +1.2pp |
| Australian | 6,043 | 18.0% | 18.2% | 5,653 | 19.8% | 19.9% | +390 | -1.8pp |
| Irish | 1,827 | 5.4% | 4.3% | 1,552 | 5.4% | 4.3% | +275 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,825 | 5.4% | 4.5% | 1,529 | 5.4% | 4.4% | +296 | 0.0pp |
| German | 718 | 2.1% | 1.7% | 568 | 2.0% | 1.7% | +150 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 650 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 421 | 1.5% | 1.8% | +229 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 409 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 332 | 1.2% | 0.9% | +77 | 0.0pp |
| New Zealander | 249 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 238 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +11 | -0.1pp |
| French | 215 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 121 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +94 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 209 | 0.6% | 3.9% | 26 | 0.1% | 1.5% | +183 | +0.5pp |
| Total | 33,527 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 28,537 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,990 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).