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 East Pilbara (S) were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
East Pilbara (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for East Pilbara (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for East Pilbara (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
2,444
% of total
12.5%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
2,444
12.5%
-1.0pp
Australian
2021 count
2,041
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
-4.8pp
2,041
10.5%
-4.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,689
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
1,689
8.7%
+3.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
616
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
616
3.2%
-0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
599
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
599
3.1%
-0.4pp
Maori
2021 count
301
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
301
1.5%
+0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
254
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
254
1.3%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
219
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
219
1.1%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
194
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
194
1.0%
-0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
124
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
124
0.6%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-420
-1.0pp
Australian
-1,192
-4.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+491
+3.0pp
Scottish
-170
-0.5pp
Irish
-150
-0.4pp
Maori
+25
+0.2pp
Filipino
+58
+0.4pp
German
-81
-0.3pp
Italian
-36
-0.1pp
New Zealander
-59
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for East Pilbara (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 | 2,444 | 12.5% | 20.0% | 2,864 | 13.5% | 19.7% | -420 | -1.0pp |
| Australian | 2,041 | 10.5% | 18.2% | 3,233 | 15.3% | 19.9% | -1,192 | -4.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 1,689 | 8.7% | 3.9% | 1,198 | 5.7% | 1.5% | +491 | +3.0pp |
| Scottish | 616 | 3.2% | 4.5% | 786 | 3.7% | 4.4% | -170 | -0.5pp |
| Irish | 599 | 3.1% | 4.3% | 749 | 3.5% | 4.3% | -150 | -0.4pp |
| Maori | 301 | 1.5% | 0.6% | 276 | 1.3% | 0.6% | +25 | +0.2pp |
| Filipino | 254 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 196 | 0.9% | 0.7% | +58 | +0.4pp |
| German | 219 | 1.1% | 1.7% | 300 | 1.4% | 1.7% | -81 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 194 | 1.0% | 1.9% | 230 | 1.1% | 1.8% | -36 | -0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 124 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 183 | 0.9% | 0.6% | -59 | -0.3pp |
| Total | 19,481 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 21,154 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -1,673 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).