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 Bovell were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bovell - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bovell in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Busselton (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bovell, with comparison markers for Busselton (C).
English
2021 count
240
% of total
25.4%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
240
25.4%
+3.3pp
Australian
2021 count
189
% of total
20.0%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
189
20.0%
-4.2pp
Irish
2021 count
60
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
60
6.4%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
48
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
48
5.1%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
25
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
25
2.6%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
12
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
12
1.3%
-1.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
11
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
11
1.2%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+34
+3.3pp
Australian
-37
-4.2pp
Irish
-1
-0.1pp
Scottish
0
0.0pp
German
+4
+0.4pp
Italian
-10
-1.1pp
Dutch
+4
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bovell. 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 | 240 | 25.4% | 24.4% | 206 | 22.1% | 24.0% | +34 | +3.3pp |
| Australian | 189 | 20.0% | 19.7% | 226 | 24.2% | 20.2% | -37 | -4.2pp |
| Irish | 60 | 6.4% | 5.4% | 61 | 6.5% | 5.1% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 48 | 5.1% | 5.3% | 48 | 5.1% | 5.1% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| German | 25 | 2.6% | 1.8% | 21 | 2.2% | 1.8% | +4 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 12 | 1.3% | 1.9% | 22 | 2.4% | 1.8% | -10 | -1.1pp |
| Dutch | 11 | 1.2% | 1.1% | 7 | 0.7% | 1.1% | +4 | +0.5pp |
| Total | 944 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 934 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +10 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).