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 Beverley (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Beverley (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Beverley (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Beverley (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
769
% of total
22.7%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
769
22.7%
-0.5pp
Australian
2021 count
665
% of total
19.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
665
19.6%
-0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
173
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
173
5.1%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
140
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
140
4.1%
-0.5pp
German
2021 count
54
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
54
1.6%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
47
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
47
1.4%
+0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
34
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
34
1.0%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
26
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
26
0.8%
-0.3pp
New Zealander
2021 count
20
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
20
0.6%
+0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
19
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
19
0.6%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-37
-0.5pp
Australian
-30
-0.4pp
Scottish
+1
+0.1pp
Irish
-19
-0.5pp
German
0
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+29
+0.9pp
Dutch
-4
-0.1pp
Italian
-12
-0.3pp
New Zealander
+5
+0.2pp
Filipino
-4
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Beverley (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 | 769 | 22.7% | 20.0% | 806 | 23.2% | 19.7% | -37 | -0.5pp |
| Australian | 665 | 19.6% | 18.2% | 695 | 20.0% | 19.9% | -30 | -0.4pp |
| Scottish | 173 | 5.1% | 4.5% | 172 | 5.0% | 4.4% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 140 | 4.1% | 4.3% | 159 | 4.6% | 4.3% | -19 | -0.5pp |
| German | 54 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 54 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 47 | 1.4% | 3.9% | 18 | 0.5% | 1.5% | +29 | +0.9pp |
| Dutch | 34 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 38 | 1.1% | 0.9% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 26 | 0.8% | 1.9% | 38 | 1.1% | 1.8% | -12 | -0.3pp |
| New Zealander | 20 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 15 | 0.4% | 0.6% | +5 | +0.2pp |
| Filipino | 19 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 23 | 0.7% | 0.7% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 3,385 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,469 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -84 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).