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 Willetton were Chinese, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Willetton - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Willetton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Canning (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Willetton, with comparison markers for Canning (C).
Chinese
2021 count
5,064
% of total
26.3%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
5,064
26.3%
+4.2pp
English
2021 count
4,572
% of total
23.7%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
4,572
23.7%
-3.2pp
Australian
2021 count
3,544
% of total
18.4%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
3,544
18.4%
-3.3pp
Indian
2021 count
2,107
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
2,107
10.9%
+0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,074
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
1,074
5.6%
-1.0pp
Irish
2021 count
1,025
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
1,025
5.3%
-1.2pp
Italian
2021 count
455
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
455
2.4%
-0.2pp
Korean
2021 count
378
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
378
2.0%
0.0pp
Tamil, nfd
2021 count
363
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
363
1.9%
+1.4pp
German
2021 count
305
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
305
1.6%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Chinese
+1,042
+4.2pp
English
-319
-3.2pp
Australian
-405
-3.3pp
Indian
+295
+0.9pp
Scottish
-125
-1.0pp
Irish
-150
-1.2pp
Italian
-19
-0.2pp
Korean
+14
0.0pp
Tamil, nfd
+275
+1.4pp
German
-65
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Willetton. 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 | |
| Chinese | 5,064 | 26.3% | 18.5% | 4,022 | 22.1% | 17.6% | +1,042 | +4.2pp |
| English | 4,572 | 23.7% | 24.6% | 4,891 | 26.9% | 26.4% | -319 | -3.2pp |
| Australian | 3,544 | 18.4% | 18.7% | 3,949 | 21.7% | 20.2% | -405 | -3.3pp |
| Indian | 2,107 | 10.9% | 8.2% | 1,812 | 10.0% | 7.8% | +295 | +0.9pp |
| Scottish | 1,074 | 5.6% | 5.5% | 1,199 | 6.6% | 6.0% | -125 | -1.0pp |
| Irish | 1,025 | 5.3% | 5.5% | 1,175 | 6.5% | 6.3% | -150 | -1.2pp |
| Italian | 455 | 2.4% | 3.3% | 474 | 2.6% | 3.4% | -19 | -0.2pp |
| Korean | 378 | 2.0% | 1.5% | 364 | 2.0% | 1.5% | +14 | 0.0pp |
| Tamil, nfd | 363 | 1.9% | 1.0% | 88 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +275 | +1.4pp |
| German | 305 | 1.6% | 1.8% | 370 | 2.0% | 2.0% | -65 | -0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).