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 Ferndale (WA) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Ferndale (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Ferndale (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Canning (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ferndale (WA), with comparison markers for Canning (C).
English
2021 count
1,692
% of total
38.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,692
38.0%
-1.1pp
Australian
2021 count
1,290
% of total
28.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,290
28.9%
-1.1pp
Irish
2021 count
425
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
425
9.5%
+0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
386
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
386
8.7%
-0.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
365
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
365
8.2%
+1.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
149
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
149
3.3%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
145
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
145
3.3%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
141
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
141
3.2%
0.0pp
Indian
2021 count
121
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
121
2.7%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
94
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
94
2.1%
+1.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-2
-1.1pp
Australian
-8
-1.1pp
Irish
+35
+0.5pp
Scottish
-19
-0.7pp
Chinese
+84
+1.7pp
Dutch
+37
+0.7pp
German
0
0.0pp
Italian
+1
0.0pp
Indian
0
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+81
+1.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Ferndale (WA). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Canning (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Canning (C)% | Count | % | Canning (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,692 | 38.0% | 24.6% | 1,694 | 39.1% | 26.4% | -2 | -1.1pp |
| Australian | 1,290 | 28.9% | 18.7% | 1,298 | 30.0% | 20.2% | -8 | -1.1pp |
| Irish | 425 | 9.5% | 5.5% | 390 | 9.0% | 6.3% | +35 | +0.5pp |
| Scottish | 386 | 8.7% | 5.5% | 405 | 9.4% | 6.0% | -19 | -0.7pp |
| Chinese | 365 | 8.2% | 18.5% | 281 | 6.5% | 17.6% | +84 | +1.7pp |
| Dutch | 149 | 3.3% | 1.5% | 112 | 2.6% | 1.5% | +37 | +0.7pp |
| German | 145 | 3.3% | 1.8% | 145 | 3.3% | 2.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 141 | 3.2% | 3.3% | 140 | 3.2% | 3.4% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Indian | 121 | 2.7% | 8.2% | 121 | 2.8% | 7.8% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 94 | 2.1% | 1.3% | 13 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +81 | +1.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).