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 Coorow (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Coorow (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Coorow (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Coorow (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
473
% of total
22.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
473
22.9%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
432
% of total
20.9%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
432
20.9%
-3.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
100
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
100
4.8%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
79
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
79
3.8%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
32
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
32
1.5%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
31
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
31
1.5%
+1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
28
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
28
1.4%
+0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
16
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
16
0.8%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+10
+0.4pp
Australian
-66
-3.3pp
Scottish
0
-0.1pp
Irish
-5
-0.3pp
German
0
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+27
+1.3pp
Italian
+2
+0.1pp
Dutch
+4
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Coorow (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 | 473 | 22.9% | 20.0% | 463 | 22.5% | 19.7% | +10 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 432 | 20.9% | 18.2% | 498 | 24.2% | 19.9% | -66 | -3.3pp |
| Scottish | 100 | 4.8% | 4.5% | 100 | 4.9% | 4.4% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 79 | 3.8% | 4.3% | 84 | 4.1% | 4.3% | -5 | -0.3pp |
| German | 32 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 32 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 31 | 1.5% | 3.9% | 4 | 0.2% | 1.5% | +27 | +1.3pp |
| Italian | 28 | 1.4% | 1.9% | 26 | 1.3% | 1.8% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Dutch | 16 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 12 | 0.6% | 0.9% | +4 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 2,068 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,061 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).