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 Carnarvon (S) were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Carnarvon (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Carnarvon (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Carnarvon (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian
2021 count
1,652
% of total
15.8%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
1,652
15.8%
-3.3pp
English
2021 count
1,420
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,420
13.6%
-1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
792
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
+5.1pp
792
7.6%
+5.1pp
Irish
2021 count
331
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
331
3.2%
+0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
315
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
315
3.0%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
205
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
205
2.0%
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
139
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
139
1.3%
-0.6pp
Portuguese
2021 count
122
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
122
1.2%
+0.1pp
Croatian
2021 count
122
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
122
1.2%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
118
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
118
1.1%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-461
-3.3pp
English
-206
-1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+516
+5.1pp
Irish
-13
+0.1pp
Scottish
+20
+0.3pp
Italian
-9
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
-73
-0.6pp
Portuguese
+4
+0.1pp
Croatian
+26
+0.3pp
German
-30
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Carnarvon (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 | |
| Australian | 1,652 | 15.8% | 18.2% | 2,113 | 19.1% | 19.9% | -461 | -3.3pp |
| English | 1,420 | 13.6% | 20.0% | 1,626 | 14.7% | 19.7% | -206 | -1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 792 | 7.6% | 3.9% | 276 | 2.5% | 1.5% | +516 | +5.1pp |
| Irish | 331 | 3.2% | 4.3% | 344 | 3.1% | 4.3% | -13 | +0.1pp |
| Scottish | 315 | 3.0% | 4.5% | 295 | 2.7% | 4.4% | +20 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 205 | 2.0% | 1.9% | 214 | 1.9% | 1.8% | -9 | +0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 139 | 1.3% | 0.1% | 212 | 1.9% | 0.1% | -73 | -0.6pp |
| Portuguese | 122 | 1.2% | 0.1% | 118 | 1.1% | 0.1% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Croatian | 122 | 1.2% | 0.2% | 96 | 0.9% | 0.2% | +26 | +0.3pp |
| German | 118 | 1.1% | 1.7% | 148 | 1.3% | 1.7% | -30 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 10,467 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,045 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -578 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).