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 Collie (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Collie (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Collie (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 Collie (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
3,996
% of total
22.7%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
3,996
22.7%
+2.2pp
Australian
2021 count
3,780
% of total
21.5%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
3,780
21.5%
-1.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
861
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
861
4.9%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
681
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
681
3.9%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
479
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
479
2.7%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
367
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
367
2.1%
+1.7pp
German
2021 count
320
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
320
1.8%
0.0pp
Polish
2021 count
146
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
146
0.8%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
128
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
128
0.7%
+0.2pp
Welsh
2021 count
120
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
120
0.7%
+0.1pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+389
+2.2pp
Australian
-330
-1.9pp
Scottish
+67
+0.4pp
Irish
-24
-0.1pp
Italian
+19
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+305
+1.7pp
German
-3
0.0pp
Polish
+13
0.0pp
Dutch
+34
+0.2pp
Welsh
+12
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Collie (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 | 3,996 | 22.7% | 20.0% | 3,607 | 20.5% | 19.7% | +389 | +2.2pp |
| Australian | 3,780 | 21.5% | 18.2% | 4,110 | 23.4% | 19.9% | -330 | -1.9pp |
| Scottish | 861 | 4.9% | 4.5% | 794 | 4.5% | 4.4% | +67 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 681 | 3.9% | 4.3% | 705 | 4.0% | 4.3% | -24 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 479 | 2.7% | 1.9% | 460 | 2.6% | 1.8% | +19 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 367 | 2.1% | 3.9% | 62 | 0.4% | 1.5% | +305 | +1.7pp |
| German | 320 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 323 | 1.8% | 1.7% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Polish | 146 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 133 | 0.8% | 0.3% | +13 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 128 | 0.7% | 1.0% | 94 | 0.5% | 0.9% | +34 | +0.2pp |
| Welsh | 120 | 0.7% | 0.4% | 108 | 0.6% | 0.4% | +12 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 17,594 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 17,587 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).