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 Dardanup (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Dardanup (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Dardanup (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dardanup (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
6,727
% of total
45.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
6,727
45.8%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
6,033
% of total
41.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
6,033
41.1%
-0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,328
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,328
9.0%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
1,244
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,244
8.5%
-0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
895
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
895
6.1%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
476
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
476
3.2%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
429
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
429
2.9%
+2.8pp
Dutch
2021 count
337
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
337
2.3%
+0.1pp
Maori
2021 count
233
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
233
1.6%
-0.2pp
South African
2021 count
167
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
167
1.1%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+280
-0.1pp
Australian
+210
-0.4pp
Scottish
+67
0.0pp
Irish
-72
-0.9pp
Italian
+82
+0.3pp
German
+67
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+408
+2.8pp
Dutch
+22
+0.1pp
Maori
-16
-0.2pp
South African
+43
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Dardanup (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 | 6,727 | 45.8% | 40.0% | 6,447 | 45.9% | 39.4% | +280 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 6,033 | 41.1% | 36.3% | 5,823 | 41.5% | 39.9% | +210 | -0.4pp |
| Scottish | 1,328 | 9.0% | 9.0% | 1,261 | 9.0% | 8.8% | +67 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 1,244 | 8.5% | 8.6% | 1,316 | 9.4% | 8.7% | -72 | -0.9pp |
| Italian | 895 | 6.1% | 3.8% | 813 | 5.8% | 3.6% | +82 | +0.3pp |
| German | 476 | 3.2% | 3.4% | 409 | 2.9% | 3.3% | +67 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 429 | 2.9% | 7.8% | 21 | 0.1% | 3.1% | +408 | +2.8pp |
| Dutch | 337 | 2.3% | 1.9% | 315 | 2.2% | 1.8% | +22 | +0.1pp |
| Maori | 233 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 249 | 1.8% | 1.2% | -16 | -0.2pp |
| South African | 167 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 124 | 0.9% | 0.8% | +43 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).