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.
Chart view
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
22.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
6,727
22.9%
-0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
6,033
% of total
20.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
6,033
20.6%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,328
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,328
4.5%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
1,244
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,244
4.2%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
895
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
895
3.1%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
476
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
476
1.6%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
429
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
429
1.5%
+1.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
337
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
337
1.1%
0.0pp
Maori
2021 count
233
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
233
0.8%
-0.1pp
South African
2021 count
167
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
167
0.6%
+0.2pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+280
-0.1pp
Australian
+210
-0.2pp
Scottish
+67
0.0pp
Irish
-72
-0.5pp
Italian
+82
+0.2pp
German
+67
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+408
+1.4pp
Dutch
+22
0.0pp
Maori
-16
-0.1pp
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 | 22.9% | 20.0% | 6,447 | 23.0% | 19.7% | +280 | -0.1pp |
| Australian | 6,033 | 20.6% | 18.2% | 5,823 | 20.8% | 19.9% | +210 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 1,328 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1,261 | 4.5% | 4.4% | +67 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 1,244 | 4.2% | 4.3% | 1,316 | 4.7% | 4.3% | -72 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 895 | 3.1% | 1.9% | 813 | 2.9% | 1.8% | +82 | +0.2pp |
| German | 476 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 409 | 1.5% | 1.7% | +67 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 429 | 1.5% | 3.9% | 21 | 0.1% | 1.5% | +408 | +1.4pp |
| Dutch | 337 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 315 | 1.1% | 0.9% | +22 | 0.0pp |
| Maori | 233 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 249 | 0.9% | 0.6% | -16 | -0.1pp |
| South African | 167 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 124 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +43 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 29,340 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 28,032 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,308 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).