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 Parkwood (WA) were English, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Parkwood (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Parkwood (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Canning (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Parkwood (WA), with comparison markers for Canning (C).
English
2021 count
1,825
% of total
30.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,825
30.4%
-0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,345
% of total
22.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,345
22.4%
-0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,266
% of total
21.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,266
21.1%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
424
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
424
7.1%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
403
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
403
6.7%
-1.0pp
Indian
2021 count
300
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
300
5.0%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
199
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
199
3.3%
+0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
138
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
138
2.3%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
127
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
127
2.1%
-0.2pp
Malay
2021 count
113
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
113
1.9%
+0.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-45
-0.6pp
Australian
-12
-0.1pp
Chinese
-61
-0.9pp
Scottish
+7
+0.2pp
Irish
-63
-1.0pp
Indian
+2
+0.1pp
Italian
+52
+0.9pp
Dutch
+27
+0.5pp
German
-12
-0.2pp
Malay
+41
+0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Parkwood (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 | 1,825 | 30.4% | 24.6% | 1,870 | 31.0% | 26.4% | -45 | -0.6pp |
| Australian | 1,345 | 22.4% | 18.7% | 1,357 | 22.5% | 20.2% | -12 | -0.1pp |
| Chinese | 1,266 | 21.1% | 18.5% | 1,327 | 22.0% | 17.6% | -61 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 424 | 7.1% | 5.5% | 417 | 6.9% | 6.0% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 403 | 6.7% | 5.5% | 466 | 7.7% | 6.3% | -63 | -1.0pp |
| Indian | 300 | 5.0% | 8.2% | 298 | 4.9% | 7.8% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 199 | 3.3% | 3.3% | 147 | 2.4% | 3.4% | +52 | +0.9pp |
| Dutch | 138 | 2.3% | 1.5% | 111 | 1.8% | 1.5% | +27 | +0.5pp |
| German | 127 | 2.1% | 1.8% | 139 | 2.3% | 2.0% | -12 | -0.2pp |
| Malay | 113 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 72 | 1.2% | 1.3% | +41 | +0.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).