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 Vasse were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Vasse - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Vasse in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Busselton (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Vasse, with comparison markers for Busselton (C).
English
2021 count
1,402
% of total
49.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,402
49.1%
+1.4pp
Australian
2021 count
1,220
% of total
42.8%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
1,220
42.8%
-2.7pp
Irish
2021 count
330
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
330
11.6%
+1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
287
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
287
10.1%
-0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
119
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
119
4.2%
+0.9pp
German
2021 count
94
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
94
3.3%
-0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
68
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
68
2.4%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
64
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
64
2.2%
+2.0pp
New Zealander
2021 count
36
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
36
1.3%
-0.8pp
Maori
2021 count
30
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
30
1.1%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+219
+1.4pp
Australian
+92
-2.7pp
Irish
+73
+1.2pp
Scottish
+26
-0.4pp
Italian
+37
+0.9pp
German
-4
-0.7pp
Dutch
+12
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+59
+2.0pp
New Zealander
-17
-0.8pp
Maori
+18
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Vasse. 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 | 1,402 | 49.1% | 48.8% | 1,183 | 47.7% | 48.0% | +219 | +1.4pp |
| Australian | 1,220 | 42.8% | 39.5% | 1,128 | 45.5% | 40.3% | +92 | -2.7pp |
| Irish | 330 | 11.6% | 10.7% | 257 | 10.4% | 10.2% | +73 | +1.2pp |
| Scottish | 287 | 10.1% | 10.6% | 261 | 10.5% | 10.2% | +26 | -0.4pp |
| Italian | 119 | 4.2% | 3.9% | 82 | 3.3% | 3.6% | +37 | +0.9pp |
| German | 94 | 3.3% | 3.6% | 98 | 4.0% | 3.5% | -4 | -0.7pp |
| Dutch | 68 | 2.4% | 2.2% | 56 | 2.3% | 2.1% | +12 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 64 | 2.2% | 2.0% | 5 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +59 | +2.0pp |
| New Zealander | 36 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 53 | 2.1% | 1.3% | -17 | -0.8pp |
| Maori | 30 | 1.1% | 0.5% | 12 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +18 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).