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 Broadwater (WA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Broadwater (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Broadwater (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Busselton (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Broadwater (WA), with comparison markers for Busselton (C).
English
2021 count
2,018
% of total
47.3%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
2,018
47.3%
-1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
1,698
% of total
39.8%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
1,698
39.8%
+4.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
454
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
454
10.6%
+1.0pp
Irish
2021 count
422
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
422
9.9%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
151
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
151
3.5%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
149
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
149
3.5%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
100
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
100
2.3%
+2.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
98
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
98
2.3%
-0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
50
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
50
1.2%
-0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
37
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
37
0.9%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-60
-1.5pp
Australian
+186
+4.3pp
Scottish
+46
+1.0pp
Irish
-2
-0.1pp
Italian
+16
+0.3pp
German
-5
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+92
+2.1pp
Dutch
-8
-0.2pp
New Zealander
-5
-0.1pp
Welsh
+3
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Broadwater (WA). 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 | 2,018 | 47.3% | 48.8% | 2,078 | 48.8% | 48.0% | -60 | -1.5pp |
| Australian | 1,698 | 39.8% | 39.5% | 1,512 | 35.5% | 40.3% | +186 | +4.3pp |
| Scottish | 454 | 10.6% | 10.6% | 408 | 9.6% | 10.2% | +46 | +1.0pp |
| Irish | 422 | 9.9% | 10.7% | 424 | 10.0% | 10.2% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 151 | 3.5% | 3.9% | 135 | 3.2% | 3.6% | +16 | +0.3pp |
| German | 149 | 3.5% | 3.6% | 154 | 3.6% | 3.5% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 100 | 2.3% | 2.0% | 8 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +92 | +2.1pp |
| Dutch | 98 | 2.3% | 2.2% | 106 | 2.5% | 2.1% | -8 | -0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 50 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 55 | 1.3% | 1.3% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Welsh | 37 | 0.9% | 0.9% | 34 | 0.8% | 0.8% | +3 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).