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 Nulsen were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Nulsen - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Nulsen in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Esperance (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Nulsen, with comparison markers for Esperance (S).
Australian
2021 count
442
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
-8.1pp
442
20.5%
-8.1pp
English
2021 count
389
% of total
18.0%
Change from 2016
-7.9pp
389
18.0%
-7.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
144
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-
144
6.7%
-
Scottish
2021 count
84
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
84
3.9%
-0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
73
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-10.0pp
73
3.4%
-10.0pp
German
2021 count
40
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
40
1.9%
-3.5pp
Italian
2021 count
20
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-
20
0.9%
-
Maori
2021 count
14
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-
14
0.6%
-
New Zealander
2021 count
11
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-
11
0.5%
-
Filipino
2021 count
10
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-
10
0.5%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+410
-8.1pp
English
+360
-7.9pp
Scottish
+79
-0.6pp
Irish
+58
-10.0pp
German
+34
-3.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Nulsen. 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 | 442 | 20.5% | 21.9% | 32 | 28.6% | 23.2% | +410 | -8.1pp |
| English | 389 | 18.0% | 20.0% | 29 | 25.9% | 19.4% | +360 | -7.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 144 | 6.7% | 2.1% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Scottish | 84 | 3.9% | 5.0% | 5 | 4.5% | 4.5% | +79 | -0.6pp |
| Irish | 73 | 3.4% | 4.3% | 15 | 13.4% | 4.3% | +58 | -10.0pp |
| German | 40 | 1.9% | 2.3% | 6 | 5.4% | 2.0% | +34 | -3.5pp |
| Italian | 20 | 0.9% | 1.5% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| Maori | 14 | 0.6% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| New Zealander | 11 | 0.5% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| Filipino | 10 | 0.5% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Total | 2,156 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 112 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,044 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).