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 Wilson were English, Australian and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Wilson - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Wilson in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Canning (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wilson, with comparison markers for Canning (C).
English
2021 count
1,833
% of total
27.7%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,833
27.7%
-0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,414
% of total
21.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,414
21.4%
+0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,129
% of total
17.1%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
1,129
17.1%
-1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
465
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
465
7.0%
-0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
405
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
405
6.1%
+0.7pp
Indian
2021 count
297
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
297
4.5%
+1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
280
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
280
4.2%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
167
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
167
2.5%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
146
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
146
2.2%
0.0pp
Bhutanese
2021 count
139
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
139
2.1%
+1.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+31
-0.6pp
Australian
+71
+0.3pp
Chinese
-40
-1.2pp
Irish
-1
-0.3pp
Scottish
+59
+0.7pp
Indian
+94
+1.3pp
Italian
+31
+0.3pp
Dutch
+15
+0.1pp
German
+8
0.0pp
Bhutanese
+97
+1.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Wilson. 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 | 1,833 | 27.7% | 24.6% | 1,802 | 28.3% | 26.4% | +31 | -0.6pp |
| Australian | 1,414 | 21.4% | 18.7% | 1,343 | 21.1% | 20.2% | +71 | +0.3pp |
| Chinese | 1,129 | 17.1% | 18.5% | 1,169 | 18.3% | 17.6% | -40 | -1.2pp |
| Irish | 465 | 7.0% | 5.5% | 466 | 7.3% | 6.3% | -1 | -0.3pp |
| Scottish | 405 | 6.1% | 5.5% | 346 | 5.4% | 6.0% | +59 | +0.7pp |
| Indian | 297 | 4.5% | 8.2% | 203 | 3.2% | 7.8% | +94 | +1.3pp |
| Italian | 280 | 4.2% | 3.3% | 249 | 3.9% | 3.4% | +31 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 167 | 2.5% | 1.5% | 152 | 2.4% | 1.5% | +15 | +0.1pp |
| German | 146 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 138 | 2.2% | 2.0% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| Bhutanese | 139 | 2.1% | 0.6% | 42 | 0.7% | 0.3% | +97 | +1.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).