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 Abbey were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Abbey - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Abbey in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Busselton (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Abbey, with comparison markers for Busselton (C).
English
2021 count
686
% of total
51.9%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
686
51.9%
+2.5pp
Australian
2021 count
537
% of total
40.7%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
537
40.7%
-1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
154
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
154
11.7%
+1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
141
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
141
10.7%
+2.2pp
Italian
2021 count
56
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
56
4.2%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
46
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
46
3.5%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
45
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
45
3.4%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
18
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
18
1.4%
+1.0pp
New Zealander
2021 count
18
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
18
1.4%
-0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
17
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
17
1.3%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+56
+2.5pp
Australian
-2
-1.6pp
Scottish
+21
+1.3pp
Irish
+33
+2.2pp
Italian
+11
+0.7pp
German
+7
+0.4pp
Dutch
+2
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+13
+1.0pp
New Zealander
-5
-0.4pp
Greek
+3
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Abbey. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Busselton (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Busselton (C)% | Count | % | Busselton (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 686 | 51.9% | 48.8% | 630 | 49.4% | 48.0% | +56 | +2.5pp |
| Australian | 537 | 40.7% | 39.5% | 539 | 42.3% | 40.3% | -2 | -1.6pp |
| Scottish | 154 | 11.7% | 10.6% | 133 | 10.4% | 10.2% | +21 | +1.3pp |
| Irish | 141 | 10.7% | 10.7% | 108 | 8.5% | 10.2% | +33 | +2.2pp |
| Italian | 56 | 4.2% | 3.9% | 45 | 3.5% | 3.6% | +11 | +0.7pp |
| German | 46 | 3.5% | 3.6% | 39 | 3.1% | 3.5% | +7 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 45 | 3.4% | 2.2% | 43 | 3.4% | 2.1% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 18 | 1.4% | 2.0% | 5 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +13 | +1.0pp |
| New Zealander | 18 | 1.4% | 1.2% | 23 | 1.8% | 1.3% | -5 | -0.4pp |
| Greek | 17 | 1.3% | 0.4% | 14 | 1.1% | 0.3% | +3 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).