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 Busselton were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Busselton - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Busselton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Busselton (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Busselton, with comparison markers for Busselton (C).
English
2021 count
892
% of total
48.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
892
48.5%
+0.3pp
Australian
2021 count
648
% of total
35.3%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
648
35.3%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
194
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
194
10.6%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
182
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
182
9.9%
-1.8pp
German
2021 count
51
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
51
2.8%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
45
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
45
2.4%
-0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
42
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
42
2.3%
+0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
40
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
40
2.2%
+1.9pp
Maori
2021 count
16
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
16
0.9%
+0.3pp
New Zealander
2021 count
14
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
14
0.8%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-13
+0.3pp
Australian
-31
-0.9pp
Scottish
+4
+0.5pp
Irish
-38
-1.8pp
German
-2
0.0pp
Italian
-13
-0.7pp
Dutch
+14
+0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+35
+1.9pp
Maori
+5
+0.3pp
New Zealander
-5
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Busselton. 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 | 892 | 48.5% | 48.8% | 905 | 48.2% | 48.0% | -13 | +0.3pp |
| Australian | 648 | 35.3% | 39.5% | 679 | 36.2% | 40.3% | -31 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 194 | 10.6% | 10.6% | 190 | 10.1% | 10.2% | +4 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 182 | 9.9% | 10.7% | 220 | 11.7% | 10.2% | -38 | -1.8pp |
| German | 51 | 2.8% | 3.6% | 53 | 2.8% | 3.5% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 45 | 2.4% | 3.9% | 58 | 3.1% | 3.6% | -13 | -0.7pp |
| Dutch | 42 | 2.3% | 2.2% | 28 | 1.5% | 2.1% | +14 | +0.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 40 | 2.2% | 2.0% | 5 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +35 | +1.9pp |
| Maori | 16 | 0.9% | 0.5% | 11 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +5 | +0.3pp |
| New Zealander | 14 | 0.8% | 1.2% | 19 | 1.0% | 1.3% | -5 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).