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 Roebuck (part) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Roebuck (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Roebuck (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Broome (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Roebuck (part), with comparison markers for Broome (S).
Australian
2021 count
208
% of total
34.3%
Change from 2016
-11.5pp
208
34.3%
-11.5pp
English
2021 count
192
% of total
31.7%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
192
31.7%
-1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
117
% of total
19.3%
Change from 2016
+14.2pp
117
19.3%
+14.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
42
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
42
6.9%
+1.0pp
Irish
2021 count
41
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
41
6.8%
-1.6pp
German
2021 count
18
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
18
3.0%
-0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
18
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
18
3.0%
+0.4pp
New Zealander
2021 count
17
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
17
2.8%
+1.6pp
Malay
2021 count
13
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
13
2.1%
-0.8pp
Chinese
2021 count
11
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
11
1.8%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-25
-11.5pp
English
+24
-1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+91
+14.2pp
Scottish
+12
+1.0pp
Irish
-2
-1.6pp
German
-2
-0.9pp
Italian
+5
+0.4pp
New Zealander
+11
+1.6pp
Malay
-2
-0.8pp
Chinese
+2
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Roebuck (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Broome (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Broome (S)% | Count | % | Broome (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 208 | 34.3% | 28.9% | 233 | 45.8% | 39.9% | -25 | -11.5pp |
| English | 192 | 31.7% | 27.7% | 168 | 33.0% | 29.2% | +24 | -1.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 117 | 19.3% | 26.4% | 26 | 5.1% | 12.2% | +91 | +14.2pp |
| Scottish | 42 | 6.9% | 7.2% | 30 | 5.9% | 7.0% | +12 | +1.0pp |
| Irish | 41 | 6.8% | 7.7% | 43 | 8.4% | 7.7% | -2 | -1.6pp |
| German | 18 | 3.0% | 2.7% | 20 | 3.9% | 2.9% | -2 | -0.9pp |
| Italian | 18 | 3.0% | 2.8% | 13 | 2.6% | 2.6% | +5 | +0.4pp |
| New Zealander | 17 | 2.8% | 0.7% | 6 | 1.2% | 0.9% | +11 | +1.6pp |
| Malay | 13 | 2.1% | 0.6% | 15 | 2.9% | 0.4% | -2 | -0.8pp |
| Chinese | 11 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 9 | 1.8% | 1.8% | +2 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).