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 Dundas (S) were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Dundas (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Dundas (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dundas (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
221
% of total
16.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
221
16.8%
+0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
194
% of total
14.7%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
194
14.7%
-3.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
74
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
74
5.6%
+4.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
62
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
62
4.7%
+0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
50
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
50
3.8%
-0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
23
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
23
1.7%
+0.6pp
Maori
2021 count
21
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
21
1.6%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
20
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
20
1.5%
-0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
17
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
17
1.3%
+1.0pp
Thai
2021 count
13
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
13
1.0%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-25
+0.7pp
Australian
-89
-3.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+63
+4.9pp
Scottish
0
+0.7pp
Irish
-22
-0.9pp
Italian
+6
+0.6pp
Maori
-3
0.0pp
German
-11
-0.5pp
Dutch
+12
+1.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Dundas (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 | 221 | 16.8% | 20.0% | 246 | 16.1% | 19.7% | -25 | +0.7pp |
| Australian | 194 | 14.7% | 18.2% | 283 | 18.5% | 19.9% | -89 | -3.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 74 | 5.6% | 3.9% | 11 | 0.7% | 1.5% | +63 | +4.9pp |
| Scottish | 62 | 4.7% | 4.5% | 62 | 4.0% | 4.4% | 0 | +0.7pp |
| Irish | 50 | 3.8% | 4.3% | 72 | 4.7% | 4.3% | -22 | -0.9pp |
| Italian | 23 | 1.7% | 1.9% | 17 | 1.1% | 1.8% | +6 | +0.6pp |
| Maori | 21 | 1.6% | 0.6% | 24 | 1.6% | 0.6% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| German | 20 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 31 | 2.0% | 1.7% | -11 | -0.5pp |
| Dutch | 17 | 1.3% | 1.0% | 5 | 0.3% | 0.9% | +12 | +1.0pp |
| Thai | 13 | 1.0% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Total | 1,319 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,532 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -213 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).