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 Denmark (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Denmark (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Denmark (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Denmark (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.

Denmark (S)
Regional WA

English

2021 count

3,038

% of total

24.1%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Australian

2021 count

2,240

% of total

17.8%

Change from 2016

-0.9pp

Scottish

2021 count

738

% of total

5.9%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Irish

2021 count

710

% of total

5.6%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

German

2021 count

300

% of total

2.4%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Italian

2021 count

171

% of total

1.4%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Dutch

2021 count

162

% of total

1.3%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

71

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Welsh

2021 count

63

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Croatian

2021 count

60

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Data table

Ancestry for Denmark (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.

Ancestry for Denmark (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Ancestry for Denmark (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
English3,03824.1%20.0%2,81824.1%19.7%+2200.0pp
Australian2,24017.8%18.2%2,18618.7%19.9%+54-0.9pp
Scottish7385.9%4.5%6495.6%4.4%+89+0.3pp
Irish7105.6%4.3%6205.3%4.3%+90+0.3pp
German3002.4%1.7%2512.1%1.7%+49+0.3pp
Italian1711.4%1.9%1641.4%1.8%+70.0pp
Dutch1621.3%1.0%1461.2%0.9%+16+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal710.6%3.9%180.2%1.5%+53+0.4pp
Welsh630.5%0.4%690.6%0.4%-6-0.1pp
Croatian600.5%0.2%270.2%0.2%+33+0.3pp
Total12,612100.0%100.0%11,687100.0%100.0%+9250.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).