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 Brookton (S) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brookton (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brookton (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brookton (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
432
% of total
23.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
432
23.4%
-0.7pp
English
2021 count
371
% of total
20.1%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
371
20.1%
-1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
72
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
72
3.9%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
71
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
71
3.8%
+3.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
69
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
69
3.7%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
32
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
32
1.7%
+1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
24
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
24
1.3%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
14
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
14
0.8%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-33
-0.7pp
English
-38
-1.1pp
Irish
-2
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+63
+3.4pp
Scottish
-4
-0.1pp
German
+18
+1.0pp
Italian
+11
+0.6pp
Dutch
+2
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brookton (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 | |
| Australian | 432 | 23.4% | 18.2% | 465 | 24.1% | 19.9% | -33 | -0.7pp |
| English | 371 | 20.1% | 20.0% | 409 | 21.2% | 19.7% | -38 | -1.1pp |
| Irish | 72 | 3.9% | 4.3% | 74 | 3.8% | 4.3% | -2 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 71 | 3.8% | 3.9% | 8 | 0.4% | 1.5% | +63 | +3.4pp |
| Scottish | 69 | 3.7% | 4.5% | 73 | 3.8% | 4.4% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| German | 32 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 14 | 0.7% | 1.7% | +18 | +1.0pp |
| Italian | 24 | 1.3% | 1.9% | 13 | 0.7% | 1.8% | +11 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 14 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 12 | 0.6% | 0.9% | +2 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 1,847 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,926 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -79 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).