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 Merivale were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Merivale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Merivale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Esperance (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Merivale, with comparison markers for Esperance (S).
Australian
2021 count
38
% of total
43.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
38
43.7%
+0.7pp
English
2021 count
27
% of total
31.0%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
27
31.0%
+3.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
12
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
12
13.8%
+5.7pp
Irish
2021 count
10
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
+6.8pp
10
11.5%
+6.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+1
+0.7pp
English
+3
+3.1pp
Scottish
+5
+5.7pp
Irish
+6
+6.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Merivale. 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 | |
| Australian | 38 | 43.7% | 43.7% | 37 | 43.0% | 46.3% | +1 | +0.7pp |
| English | 27 | 31.0% | 39.8% | 24 | 27.9% | 38.8% | +3 | +3.1pp |
| Scottish | 12 | 13.8% | 10.1% | 7 | 8.1% | 9.0% | +5 | +5.7pp |
| Irish | 10 | 11.5% | 8.5% | 4 | 4.7% | 8.5% | +6 | +6.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).