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 Chittering (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Chittering (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Chittering (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Chittering (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
2,856
% of total
24.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
2,856
24.1%
+0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
2,426
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,426
20.5%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
597
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
597
5.0%
+0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
529
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
529
4.5%
+0.5pp
German
2021 count
185
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
185
1.6%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
162
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
162
1.4%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
159
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
159
1.3%
+1.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
144
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
144
1.2%
+0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
66
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
66
0.6%
-0.1pp
South African
2021 count
60
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
60
0.5%
+0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+294
+0.6pp
Australian
+187
-0.1pp
Scottish
+134
+0.7pp
Irish
+91
+0.5pp
German
-12
-0.2pp
Italian
+7
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+149
+1.2pp
Dutch
+27
+0.1pp
New Zealander
-10
-0.1pp
South African
+12
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Chittering (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 | 2,856 | 24.1% | 20.0% | 2,562 | 23.5% | 19.7% | +294 | +0.6pp |
| Australian | 2,426 | 20.5% | 18.2% | 2,239 | 20.6% | 19.9% | +187 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 597 | 5.0% | 4.5% | 463 | 4.3% | 4.4% | +134 | +0.7pp |
| Irish | 529 | 4.5% | 4.3% | 438 | 4.0% | 4.3% | +91 | +0.5pp |
| German | 185 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 197 | 1.8% | 1.7% | -12 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 162 | 1.4% | 1.9% | 155 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 159 | 1.3% | 3.9% | 10 | 0.1% | 1.5% | +149 | +1.2pp |
| Dutch | 144 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 117 | 1.1% | 0.9% | +27 | +0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 66 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 76 | 0.7% | 0.6% | -10 | -0.1pp |
| South African | 60 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 48 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +12 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 11,850 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10,886 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +964 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).