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 Bruce Rock (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bruce Rock (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bruce Rock (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bruce Rock (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
429
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
429
22.0%
-2.5pp
Australian
2021 count
362
% of total
18.6%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
362
18.6%
-3.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
99
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
99
5.1%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
53
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
53
2.7%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
44
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
44
2.3%
-0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
36
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
36
1.8%
-
Italian
2021 count
34
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
34
1.7%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
21
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
21
1.1%
+0.7pp
Filipino
2021 count
15
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
15
0.8%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-22
-2.5pp
Australian
-38
-3.2pp
Scottish
+7
+0.1pp
Irish
+1
-0.1pp
German
-6
-0.4pp
Italian
+9
+0.3pp
Dutch
+13
+0.7pp
Filipino
+2
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bruce Rock (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 | 429 | 22.0% | 20.0% | 451 | 24.5% | 19.7% | -22 | -2.5pp |
| Australian | 362 | 18.6% | 18.2% | 400 | 21.8% | 19.9% | -38 | -3.2pp |
| Scottish | 99 | 5.1% | 4.5% | 92 | 5.0% | 4.4% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 53 | 2.7% | 4.3% | 52 | 2.8% | 4.3% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| German | 44 | 2.3% | 1.7% | 50 | 2.7% | 1.7% | -6 | -0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 36 | 1.8% | 3.9% | - | - | 1.5% | - | - |
| Italian | 34 | 1.7% | 1.9% | 25 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +9 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 21 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 8 | 0.4% | 0.9% | +13 | +0.7pp |
| Filipino | 15 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 13 | 0.7% | 0.7% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 1,948 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,838 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +110 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).