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
28.4%
Change from 2016
+5.8pp
4,003
28.4%
+5.8pp
Australian
2021 count
913
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-5.9pp
913
6.5%
-5.9pp
English
2021 count
820
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
820
5.8%
-1.5pp
Irish
2021 count
273
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
273
1.9%
-0.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
250
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
250
1.8%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
68
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
68
0.5%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
63
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
63
0.4%
-0.4pp
Maori
2021 count
60
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
60
0.4%
-0.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
52
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
52
0.4%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
38
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
38
0.3%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian Aboriginal
+516
+5.8pp
Australian
-1,000
-5.9pp
English
-304
-1.5pp
Irish
-55
-0.2pp
Scottish
-48
-0.1pp
Italian
+2
+0.1pp
German
-64
-0.4pp
Maori
-11
-0.1pp
Filipino
-14
0.0pp
Chinese
-28
-0.1pp
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 | 28.4% | 3.9% | 3,487 | 22.6% | 1.5% | +516 | +5.8pp |
| Australian | 913 | 6.5% | 18.2% | 1,913 | 12.4% | 19.9% | -1,000 | -5.9pp |
| English | 820 | 5.8% | 20.0% | 1,124 | 7.3% | 19.7% | -304 | -1.5pp |
| Irish | 273 | 1.9% | 4.3% | 328 | 2.1% | 4.3% | -55 | -0.2pp |
| Scottish | 250 | 1.8% | 4.5% | 298 | 1.9% | 4.4% | -48 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 68 | 0.5% | 1.9% | 66 | 0.4% | 1.8% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| German | 63 | 0.4% | 1.7% | 127 | 0.8% | 1.7% | -64 | -0.4pp |
| Maori | 60 | 0.4% | 0.6% | 71 | 0.5% | 0.6% | -11 | -0.1pp |
| Filipino | 52 | 0.4% | 0.8% | 66 | 0.4% | 0.7% | -14 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 38 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 66 | 0.4% | 0.4% | -28 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 14,111 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 15,435 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -1,324 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).