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 Capel (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Capel (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Capel (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Capel (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
8,351
% of total
45.9%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
8,351
45.9%
+1.4pp
Australian
2021 count
7,164
% of total
39.4%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
7,164
39.4%
-1.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,807
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,807
9.9%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
1,621
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,621
8.9%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
771
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
771
4.2%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
627
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
627
3.4%
-0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
526
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
526
2.9%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
509
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
509
2.8%
+2.6pp
South African
2021 count
451
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
451
2.5%
-0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
359
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
359
2.0%
+0.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+739
+1.4pp
Australian
+143
-1.6pp
Scottish
+158
+0.3pp
Irish
+41
-0.3pp
Italian
+48
0.0pp
German
0
-0.3pp
Dutch
+82
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+468
+2.6pp
South African
-6
-0.2pp
Filipino
+167
+0.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Capel (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 8,351 | 45.9% | 40.0% | 7,612 | 44.5% | 39.4% | +739 | +1.4pp |
| Australian | 7,164 | 39.4% | 36.3% | 7,021 | 41.0% | 39.9% | +143 | -1.6pp |
| Scottish | 1,807 | 9.9% | 9.0% | 1,649 | 9.6% | 8.8% | +158 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 1,621 | 8.9% | 8.6% | 1,580 | 9.2% | 8.7% | +41 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 771 | 4.2% | 3.8% | 723 | 4.2% | 3.6% | +48 | 0.0pp |
| German | 627 | 3.4% | 3.4% | 627 | 3.7% | 3.3% | 0 | -0.3pp |
| Dutch | 526 | 2.9% | 1.9% | 444 | 2.6% | 1.8% | +82 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 509 | 2.8% | 7.8% | 41 | 0.2% | 3.1% | +468 | +2.6pp |
| South African | 451 | 2.5% | 0.8% | 457 | 2.7% | 0.8% | -6 | -0.2pp |
| Filipino | 359 | 2.0% | 1.5% | 192 | 1.1% | 1.3% | +167 | +0.9pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).