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 Shelley (WA) were English, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Shelley (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Shelley (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Canning (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Shelley (WA), with comparison markers for Canning (C).
English
2021 count
1,549
% of total
32.3%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
1,549
32.3%
-1.9pp
Australian
2021 count
897
% of total
18.7%
Change from 2016
-4.4pp
897
18.7%
-4.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
804
% of total
16.8%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
804
16.8%
+2.4pp
Indian
2021 count
388
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
388
8.1%
+1.0pp
Irish
2021 count
372
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
372
7.8%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
371
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
371
7.7%
-0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
182
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
182
3.8%
+0.6pp
German
2021 count
118
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
118
2.5%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
91
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
91
1.9%
-0.1pp
Korean
2021 count
80
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
80
1.7%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1
-1.9pp
Australian
-147
-4.4pp
Chinese
+153
+2.4pp
Indian
+68
+1.0pp
Irish
+19
0.0pp
Scottish
-17
-0.9pp
Italian
+39
+0.6pp
German
+8
+0.1pp
Dutch
-1
-0.1pp
Korean
+27
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Shelley (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 | 1,549 | 32.3% | 24.6% | 1,548 | 34.2% | 26.4% | +1 | -1.9pp |
| Australian | 897 | 18.7% | 18.7% | 1,044 | 23.1% | 20.2% | -147 | -4.4pp |
| Chinese | 804 | 16.8% | 18.5% | 651 | 14.4% | 17.6% | +153 | +2.4pp |
| Indian | 388 | 8.1% | 8.2% | 320 | 7.1% | 7.8% | +68 | +1.0pp |
| Irish | 372 | 7.8% | 5.5% | 353 | 7.8% | 6.3% | +19 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 371 | 7.7% | 5.5% | 388 | 8.6% | 6.0% | -17 | -0.9pp |
| Italian | 182 | 3.8% | 3.3% | 143 | 3.2% | 3.4% | +39 | +0.6pp |
| German | 118 | 2.5% | 1.8% | 110 | 2.4% | 2.0% | +8 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 91 | 1.9% | 1.5% | 92 | 2.0% | 1.5% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Korean | 80 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 53 | 1.2% | 1.5% | +27 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).