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 Derby-West Kimberley (S) were Australian Aboriginal, Australian and English.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Derby-West Kimberley (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Derby-West Kimberley (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Derby-West Kimberley (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
4,003
% of total
56.6%
Change from 2016
+11.5pp
4,003
56.6%
+11.5pp
Australian
2021 count
913
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
-11.8pp
913
12.9%
-11.8pp
English
2021 count
820
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
820
11.6%
-2.9pp
Irish
2021 count
273
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
273
3.9%
-0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
250
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
250
3.5%
-0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
68
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
68
1.0%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
63
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
63
0.9%
-0.7pp
Maori
2021 count
60
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
60
0.8%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
52
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
52
0.7%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
38
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
38
0.5%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
+516
+11.5pp
Australian
-1,000
-11.8pp
English
-304
-2.9pp
Irish
-55
-0.3pp
Scottish
-48
-0.4pp
Italian
+2
+0.1pp
German
-64
-0.7pp
Maori
-11
-0.1pp
Filipino
-14
-0.2pp
Chinese
-28
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Derby-West Kimberley (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 | |
| Australian Aboriginal | 4,003 | 56.6% | 7.8% | 3,487 | 45.1% | 3.1% | +516 | +11.5pp |
| Australian | 913 | 12.9% | 36.3% | 1,913 | 24.7% | 39.9% | -1,000 | -11.8pp |
| English | 820 | 11.6% | 40.0% | 1,124 | 14.5% | 39.4% | -304 | -2.9pp |
| Irish | 273 | 3.9% | 8.6% | 328 | 4.2% | 8.7% | -55 | -0.3pp |
| Scottish | 250 | 3.5% | 9.0% | 298 | 3.9% | 8.8% | -48 | -0.4pp |
| Italian | 68 | 1.0% | 3.8% | 66 | 0.9% | 3.6% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| German | 63 | 0.9% | 3.4% | 127 | 1.6% | 3.3% | -64 | -0.7pp |
| Maori | 60 | 0.8% | 1.3% | 71 | 0.9% | 1.2% | -11 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 52 | 0.7% | 1.5% | 66 | 0.9% | 1.3% | -14 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 38 | 0.5% | 0.8% | 66 | 0.9% | 0.8% | -28 | -0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).