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 Rossmoyne were English, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Rossmoyne - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Rossmoyne in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Canning (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rossmoyne, with comparison markers for Canning (C).
English
2021 count
1,184
% of total
32.5%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
1,184
32.5%
-1.3pp
Australian
2021 count
858
% of total
23.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
858
23.6%
-0.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
683
% of total
18.8%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
683
18.8%
+2.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
290
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
290
8.0%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
245
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
245
6.7%
-0.8pp
Indian
2021 count
241
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
241
6.6%
+1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
106
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
106
2.9%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
89
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
89
2.4%
-0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
62
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
62
1.7%
0.0pp
Sinhalese
2021 count
48
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
48
1.3%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+60
-1.3pp
Australian
+46
-0.9pp
Chinese
+156
+2.9pp
Scottish
+28
+0.1pp
Irish
-5
-0.8pp
Indian
+64
+1.3pp
Italian
+25
+0.5pp
German
-14
-0.7pp
Dutch
+4
0.0pp
Sinhalese
+31
+0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Rossmoyne. 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 | 1,184 | 32.5% | 24.6% | 1,124 | 33.8% | 26.4% | +60 | -1.3pp |
| Australian | 858 | 23.6% | 18.7% | 812 | 24.5% | 20.2% | +46 | -0.9pp |
| Chinese | 683 | 18.8% | 18.5% | 527 | 15.9% | 17.6% | +156 | +2.9pp |
| Scottish | 290 | 8.0% | 5.5% | 262 | 7.9% | 6.0% | +28 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 245 | 6.7% | 5.5% | 250 | 7.5% | 6.3% | -5 | -0.8pp |
| Indian | 241 | 6.6% | 8.2% | 177 | 5.3% | 7.8% | +64 | +1.3pp |
| Italian | 106 | 2.9% | 3.3% | 81 | 2.4% | 3.4% | +25 | +0.5pp |
| German | 89 | 2.4% | 1.8% | 103 | 3.1% | 2.0% | -14 | -0.7pp |
| Dutch | 62 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 58 | 1.7% | 1.5% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Sinhalese | 48 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 17 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +31 | +0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).