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 Esperance were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Esperance - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Esperance in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Esperance (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Esperance, with comparison markers for Esperance (S).
English
2021 count
858
% of total
41.3%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
858
41.3%
+3.4pp
Australian
2021 count
830
% of total
39.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
830
39.9%
-1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
242
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
242
11.6%
+2.2pp
Irish
2021 count
189
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
189
9.1%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
89
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
89
4.3%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
67
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
67
3.2%
+0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
53
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
53
2.5%
+2.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
26
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
26
1.3%
+0.5pp
Filipino
2021 count
22
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
22
1.1%
+0.4pp
Maori
2021 count
21
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
21
1.0%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+45
+3.4pp
Australian
-51
-1.2pp
Scottish
+40
+2.2pp
Irish
-7
0.0pp
German
+7
+0.5pp
Italian
+17
+0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
+49
+2.3pp
Dutch
+8
+0.5pp
Filipino
+6
+0.4pp
Maori
+2
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Esperance. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Esperance (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Esperance (S)% | Count | % | Esperance (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 858 | 41.3% | 39.8% | 813 | 37.9% | 38.8% | +45 | +3.4pp |
| Australian | 830 | 39.9% | 43.7% | 881 | 41.1% | 46.3% | -51 | -1.2pp |
| Scottish | 242 | 11.6% | 10.1% | 202 | 9.4% | 9.0% | +40 | +2.2pp |
| Irish | 189 | 9.1% | 8.5% | 196 | 9.1% | 8.5% | -7 | 0.0pp |
| German | 89 | 4.3% | 4.6% | 82 | 3.8% | 4.0% | +7 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 67 | 3.2% | 3.0% | 50 | 2.3% | 2.6% | +17 | +0.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 53 | 2.5% | 4.1% | 4 | 0.2% | 0.7% | +49 | +2.3pp |
| Dutch | 26 | 1.3% | 1.5% | 18 | 0.8% | 1.2% | +8 | +0.5pp |
| Filipino | 22 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 16 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +6 | +0.4pp |
| Maori | 21 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 19 | 0.9% | 1.0% | +2 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).