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 Donnybrook-Balingup (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Donnybrook-Balingup (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Donnybrook-Balingup (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 Donnybrook-Balingup (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
2,985
% of total
24.3%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
2,985
24.3%
+2.4pp
Australian
2021 count
2,396
% of total
19.5%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
2,396
19.5%
-1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
693
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
693
5.6%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
617
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
617
5.0%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
407
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
407
3.3%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
238
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
238
1.9%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
157
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
157
1.3%
+1.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
146
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
146
1.2%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
70
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
70
0.6%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
49
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
49
0.4%
0.0pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+414
+2.4pp
Australian
-5
-1.0pp
Scottish
+100
+0.5pp
Irish
+89
+0.5pp
Italian
-7
-0.2pp
German
+13
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+142
+1.2pp
Dutch
+29
+0.2pp
New Zealander
+10
+0.1pp
Chinese
+7
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Donnybrook-Balingup (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 | 2,985 | 24.3% | 20.0% | 2,571 | 21.9% | 19.7% | +414 | +2.4pp |
| Australian | 2,396 | 19.5% | 18.2% | 2,401 | 20.5% | 19.9% | -5 | -1.0pp |
| Scottish | 693 | 5.6% | 4.5% | 593 | 5.1% | 4.4% | +100 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 617 | 5.0% | 4.3% | 528 | 4.5% | 4.3% | +89 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 407 | 3.3% | 1.9% | 414 | 3.5% | 1.8% | -7 | -0.2pp |
| German | 238 | 1.9% | 1.7% | 225 | 1.9% | 1.7% | +13 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 157 | 1.3% | 3.9% | 15 | 0.1% | 1.5% | +142 | +1.2pp |
| Dutch | 146 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 117 | 1.0% | 0.9% | +29 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 70 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 60 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +10 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 49 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 42 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 12,271 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,735 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +536 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).